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

Photos in front of the pulpit captured West’s her childhood and youthful beauty as well as the elegant matron who would come to be called Mother Rose by both her family and many students at her alma mater, Sacramento High School. —Cathie Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 24 Jan. 2025

Her alma mater, Palisades Charter High School, was badly damaged. —Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025

Freeman, who surfaced as a potential Bears target six weeks ago, per Peter Schrager of Fox and NFL Network, has the Irish in the national championship game on Monday against his alma mater, Ohio State. —Mike Sando, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025

Russell doesn’t think Freeman facing his alma mater will make a big difference in the national title game. —Greg Rosenstein, NBC News, 17 Jan. 2025

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