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

Among other things, the two shared a rich love for the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs, and their alma mater, the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats, Snapp said. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2025

To celebrate school acceptance, families throw a party centered around a photo-op of their teen’s bedroom decorated with a blanket featuring the name of their future alma mater and an array of other trimmings branded with the school’s name or colors. —Elisa Cinelli, Parents, 21 Mar. 2025

In all, the 84-year-old Ross has donated some $480 million to his alma mater. —Brett Knight, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025

Pick colors that match their alma mater for an extra personalized touch. —Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 20 Mar. 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