alma mater

American  

[ahl-muh mah-ter, al-, al-muh mey-ter] / ˈɑl mə ˈmɑ tər, ˈæl-, ˈæl mə ˈmeɪ tər /

noun

1. a school, college, or university at which one has studied and, usually, from which one has graduated.

2. the official anthem of a school, college, or university.

---

alma mater British  

/ ˈmeɪtə, ˈælmə ˈmɑːtə /

noun

1. (often capitals) one's school, college, or university

---

alma mater Cultural  

1. The school or university from which one graduated. The term also refers to a school's official song: “The reunion began with everyone singing the alma mater.” From Latin, meaning “nurturing mother.”

---

alma mater Idioms  

1. Also, Alma Mater. The school or college one attended and, usually, graduated from, as in During football season I always check to see how my alma mater is doing. This expression sometimes refers to the institution's official song, as in I never did learn the words to my college's alma mater. The term is Latin for “kind mother.” [c. 1800]

---

Usage

What does alma mater mean? An alma mater is the school, college, or university that someone has graduated from.It’s most commonly used to refer to a college or university, but it can also refer to a high school.The term is associated with pride in one’s school. It’s often used by those who network and keep in touch with other graduates and continue to identify as a graduate of the school after they have left.The term alma mater can also refer to the official song of a school, college, or university.Example: Since Jade graduated from Temple University, she has not stopped talking about her alma mater.

Etymology

Origin of alma mater

< Latin: nourishing (i.e., dear) mother

Example Sentences

Now check how much the average professor makes at your alma mater.

From The Wall Street Journal

He often hires recent graduates of his alma mater to be his law clerks.

From The Wall Street Journal

Then they went onto the football field to learn some lessons at the fifth annual Trenton Irwin football camp on Sunday morning held at his alma mater, Hart High.

From Los Angeles Times

Jenkins’ death was confirmed by his alma mater Otis College, where he studied under renowned painter and printmaker Charles White in the late 1970s and returned as an instructor years later.

From Los Angeles Times

In June, his twin sons transferred to his alma mater from a Detroit prep school with hopes of making their papa proud and lifting the town’s spirit.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• academy