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
One of those talks happened at his alma mater, Martin Luther King Jr.
—Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Sep. 2025
That was his role with the Baltimore Ravens (2014-18) before returning to his alma mater as head coach six years ago.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025
Lucas graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in 2025 and hopes to play for his dad’s alma mater, University of Michigan, Mel told the Michigan Football In the Trenches podcast in June 2025.
—Kelsey Lentz, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
After starting at quarterback for Oklahoma State from 1986 to 1989, Gundy returned to coach his alma mater in 2005, experiencing some great success over the course of his 21-year tenure with the program.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for alma mater
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Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Sep. 2025
That was his role with the Baltimore Ravens (2014-18) before returning to his alma mater as head coach six years ago.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025
Lucas graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in 2025 and hopes to play for his dad’s alma mater, University of Michigan, Mel told the Michigan Football In the Trenches podcast in June 2025.
—Kelsey Lentz, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
After starting at quarterback for Oklahoma State from 1986 to 1989, Gundy returned to coach his alma mater in 2005, experiencing some great success over the course of his 21-year tenure with the program.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
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 1 Oct. 2025.
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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