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

What To Know Morrissey asked West Virginians and others to continue praying for Wolfe, and noted that a vigil was planned Friday night at Wolfe’s alma mater, Musselman High School in Berkeley County. —Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025

That same year, Gehry joined the faculty of his alma mater, the University of Southern California, as a professor of architecture. —CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025

The stunning win came in Medved’s first conference game at his alma mater. —Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 4 Dec. 2025

Fitzgerald, 50, went 110-101 during his 17 seasons coaching his alma mater but was fired in 2023 after allegations of hazing in the program during his tenure. —The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 1 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