alma mater

American  

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

noun

alma maters plural

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.

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alma mater British  

/ ˈmeɪtə, ˈælmə ˈmɑːtə /

noun

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

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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.”

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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]

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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.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• alma maters
  plural

Etymology

Origin of alma mater

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

alma mater

Some families pass down lifelong loyalty to the Yankees or their alma mater.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

After serving as an assistant coach at her alma mater and George Washington, Reeve became head coach at Indiana State, going 63-72 over five seasons with winning records in each of the last two.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026

The dwelling is also located just a short distance from the couple’s alma mater, the University of Alabama, where Weaver was a prominent member of the dance team.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026

Before midshipman Lincoln Hedberg steps off the bandstand and the Herndon Climb ends, he takes the microphone and sings “Navy Blue & Gold,” USNA’s alma mater.

From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026

She resigned from Langley and returned to her alma mater, Arkansas AM&N, for a masters degree in mathematics.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Related Words

• academy