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

DeBoer visited his alma mater in the spring and also sent students a video this week thanking them for their support and prayers. — Rick West, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Baiz takes over for longtime ARC head coach Jon Osterhout, now the assistant athletic director and chief of staff of Sacramento State’s football program, his alma mater. — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Danielle teaches English at their alma mater, Northgate High School. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026

The couple have partnered with Little Kids Rock to cover the cost of music education at his alma mater school, Phillis Wheatley. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 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