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

Kameron Saunders — dancer for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and brother of a former Kansas City Chiefs player — will speak to graduates at his alma mater, UMKC, next month. —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026

The crowd, estimated by a Cal official at about 6,000, was at least three times what the event drew a year ago, indicative of the momentum the program has developed since Lupoi returned to his alma mater in December. —Jeff Faraudo, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2026

Bass has actually been be able to consult former MLB second baseman Jason Kipnis, a Glenbrook North graduate who ended his playing career with the Chicago Cubs in 2020 and has returned to his alma mater as a volunteer assistant. —Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026

Conan O'Brien The comedian and Harvard alumnus will return to his alma mater to speak to graduates on May 28. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 17 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