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
Phil KloerExamples of alma mater in a Sentence
I visited my old alma mater last week.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mendoza, a Miami Columbus High alumnus, shares an alma mater with UM coach Mario Cristobal.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
After the unlikely duo cross paths in college — while sharing a car ride home to their small hometown of Linfield, Ohio — Poppy goes on to fulfill her dreams of working for a travel magazine in New York City, while Alex returns to his Ohio roots and begins teaching at Poppy's alma mater.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
For The Times) On a night honoring JuJu Watkins, maybe the school’s most accomplished athlete ever, the Sierra Canyon boys’ basketball team did her alma mater proud by holding off Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 78-74 on Friday in a Mission League showdown in Chatsworth.
—Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Dart was on the sidelines for his alma mater Ole Miss during the team’s 31-27 loss to Miami in the Fiesta Bowl when the broadcast picked up the 22-year-old having a conversation.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for alma mater
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Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
After the unlikely duo cross paths in college — while sharing a car ride home to their small hometown of Linfield, Ohio — Poppy goes on to fulfill her dreams of working for a travel magazine in New York City, while Alex returns to his Ohio roots and begins teaching at Poppy's alma mater.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
For The Times) On a night honoring JuJu Watkins, maybe the school’s most accomplished athlete ever, the Sierra Canyon boys’ basketball team did her alma mater proud by holding off Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 78-74 on Friday in a Mission League showdown in Chatsworth.
—Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Dart was on the sidelines for his alma mater Ole Miss during the team’s 31-27 loss to Miami in the Fiesta Bowl when the broadcast picked up the 22-year-old having a conversation.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for alma mater
Cite this Entry
“Alma mater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alma%20mater. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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