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

Cal fans can only dream Lupoi’s return to his alma mater triggers success approaching that level. —Jeff Faraudo, Mercury News, 23 Dec. 2025

And credit to Keyshawn Johnson, loyal Trojan, for calling out his alma mater’s decision makers in a video statement on Monday afternoon. —Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 23 Dec. 2025

He was honored at his alma mater on Monday night. —Alex Glaze, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025

DeBoer spent his first 13 years in coaching either in high school or his alma mater, then-NAIA powerhouse Sioux Falls. —Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025

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