alma mater

noun

al·​ma ma·​ter ˌal-mə-ˈmä-tər 

1

: a school, college, or university which one has attended or from which one has graduated

went to a class reunion at his alma mater

2

: the song or hymn of a school, college, or university

"Hey, Harvard boy, sing your alma mater!" shouted an obnoxious producer.

—Phil Kloer

Examples of alma mater in a Sentence

I visited my old alma mater last week.

Recent Examples on the Web

Organizers passed out white candles and orange and red roses to the crowd on the lawn, filled with the colors orange and green, Metayer Bowen’s favorite colors and the colors of her alma mater Florida A&M University. —Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026

Orange was Metayer’s favorite color and that of her alma mater, FAMU, organizers said. —Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026

Like tens of thousands across the country, Steve Kerr is a loud and proud supporter of his alma mater during March Madness. —Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026

To some donors, their love for their alma mater may outweigh any tax benefit. —Andrew Urbaczewski, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, fostering mother

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for alma mater

• annunciator
• imprimatur
• underwater
• backwater
• bathwater
• blackwater
• breakwater
• deepwater
• edgewater
• feedwater
• floodwater
• freshwater

Kids Definition

alma mater

noun

al·​ma ma·​ter ˌal-mə-ˈmät-ər 

: a school, college, or university that one has attended

Etymology

Latin, literally "fostering mother," from almus "nourishing" (from alire "to nourish") and mater "mother" — related to alimentary, maternal