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

Head coach Jim Harbaugh leads his alma mater's young team as the series provides an intimate look at the lives, both on the field and off, of the student-athletes charged with carrying on Michigan's legacy. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024

On Saturday afternoon, a single bouquet of flowers and an old Oakland A’s hat adorned the fence of Rickey Henderson Field off 45th Avenue in North Oakland, the home diamond for Henderson’s alma mater, Oakland Tech High School. —Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 21 Dec. 2024

Driving the news: Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley and the rest of the state's eyes will be glued to the TV Saturday as his alma mater, Penn State, hosts SMU in the opening round of the College Football Playoff. —Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024

Although Freeman has a new contract in place, numerous coaches have left for other jobs, leading some to wonder whether Freeman would depart for an offer from an NFL franchise or Ohio State, his alma mater. —Tim Casey, Forbes, 18 Dec. 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