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

Much of that intrigue included talk of him going to Princess Kate’s alma mater, the coed Marlborough College, which would have opened up the prospect of his two younger siblings — Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 — both following him there. —Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026

The prestigious all-boys boarding school is the alma mater of Prince William (as well as younger brother Prince Harry). —Lara Walsh, InStyle, 16 June 2026

Three of them, Brunson, Hart, and Mikal Bridges, went to the same college, Villanova, Pope Leo’s alma mater, where Hart won an NCAA title and Brunson and Bridges won two. —Sean Gregory, Time, 14 June 2026

Ayscue served on several nonprofit boards and advisory groups across his career, especially for his alma mater. —Diamy Wang, Charlotte Observer, 13 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