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

Ivan Thomas took over at Hampton, which went 9-24 last season, and Mike Jones took over at his alma mater after Old Dominion finished last season with a 7-25 record. —Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 20 June 2024

Good, 58, is a former Citibank banker and an athletic fundraiser for his alma mater, Liberty University, a Christian conservative touchstone in a district that stretches east to the Richmond exurbs and south to the North Carolina line. —Chris Suarez, Washington Post, 18 June 2024

The college student, who is enrolled at Prince William and Princess Kate's alma mater, the University of St. Andrew's in Scotland, made her own fashion statement with a royal rewear at Trooping — and something maybe from her mom's closet! —Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 15 June 2024

Aragon, who worked about 19 years at his alma mater, received an outpouring of support following the news, including a petition that requested he be retained by the school. —Dan Albano, Orange County Register, 12 June 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