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

That’s the nickname of his alma mater, San Fernando High School. —Lia Russell, Sacramento Bee, 28 Feb. 2025

Later that same year, in November, his wife’s alma mater, Rollins College, unveiled a statue dedicated to Rogers. —Makena Gera, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025

Etheridge helped recruit numerous blue-chip recruits at his last Power 4 job — which was at his alma mater, Auburn. —Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2025

Jelly Roll returned to his Tennessee alma mater, Antioch High School, earlier this week to speak with students and staff nearly a month after the fatal shooting on campus. —Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 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