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

Jason Miller is leaving Bellflower High to become football coach at his alma mater, Leuzinger. . . —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024

Because Trump and three of his older children, Don Jr., Ivanka and Tiffany graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, the Daily Beast suggested that there could still be a last-minute change and Barron could end up at their alma mater. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, fostering mother

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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