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

Alford also served on the staffs of area hospitals and as a faculty member at his alma mater. — Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026

Before Spurrier took over at his alma mater, Georgia had won 13 of the last 16 meetings in the series from 1974 to 1989. — Jeff Sentell, AJC.com, 2 Nov. 2026

At the Vatican a day earlier, Leo told the teams from alma mater Villanova and fellow Catholic university Notre Dame that in matters of sport, the pontiff was neutral. — Andrew Dampf, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

As the Seminole band played the alma mater song, Calhoun jumped up on the band director podium and danced to the music of the Pride of the Tribe band with Hampton. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, fostering mother

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for alma mater

• imprimatur
• underwater
• auteur
• blotter
• cotter
• daughter
• hotter
• otter
• plotter
• rotter
• slaughter
• spotter

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