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

Pettit was then principal for Crown Point High School, his alma mater, but had never been a superintendent. —Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026

That same night, Monique and Spencer were in Indiana watching their alma mater Ohio State University compete in the Big Ten Football Championship. —Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026

Hafley also went on to be the head coach at Washington’s alma mater, Boston College, for four years. —David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026

This 2012 file photo shows current Braves first baseman Matt Olson (right) celebrating a homer for Parkview High School — arch nemesis of Chad Bishop's alma mater. —Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 30 Jan. 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