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

Glover is scheduled to return to his alma mater on Friday for an event in Ontario. —City News Service, Daily News, 9 June 2026

Recent reports indicate that Congress members may also favor their alma maters when doling out earmarks. —Heather McCambly, The Conversation, 8 June 2026

So there was an opening at Rice’s alma mater. —Shaun Goodwin june 8, Idaho Statesman, 8 June 2026

Cesario beat his alma mater three times in 2013, including in the NCS championship game. —Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 8 June 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