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

Blasi was head coach at Miami University, his alma mater, from 1999 to 2019. —Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026

Interviewers may favor candidates who share their alma mater or communication style, mistaking familiarity for fit, Naumann says. —Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026

Lucinda Jones-Martin, a 1969 graduate of Sterling High School and a 1973 graduate of North Carolina Agricultural & Technical College in Greensboro (Jackson’s alma mater), said all Jesse Louis did was play ball. —Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026

Rick and his wife have donated to local Jewish organizations as well as to the Center for Jewish Life at Princeton University, his alma mater. —Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 2 Mar. 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