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

Former coordinators Collin Klein (offensive) left to become head coach at his alma mater Kansas State, and Jay Bateman (defensive) left for the same role at Kentucky. —Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 18 Mar. 2026

At the time, Constand was the sports director at Temple University, Cosby’s alma mater. —Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026

This continues to be the best stretch in program history and is further confirmation of how good of a job coach Jamie Dixon has done at his alma mater. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026

The teen will be a legacy enrollee because the University of Miami is Rohan’s alma mater, and where his football career flourished. —Essence, 17 Mar. 2026

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