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.

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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.

Etymology

Origin of alma mater

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

Example Sentences

As a teen who obsessively watched movies, he set his sights on New York University’s film school, the alma mater of Martin Scorsese, who directed Ratner’s favorite movie, “Raging Bull.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“We could have had 100 points. That’s not me. I have respect for my alma mater.”

From Los Angeles Times

Then, just before the bowl game, Lynn left for the same job at his alma mater, Penn State, after rejecting the school’s advances a year earlier.

From Los Angeles Times

Hannah graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in business journalism and grew up in the same town as her alma mater.

From The Wall Street Journal

David Greenwood, one of the best high school basketball players in Southern California history, will have his jersey retired on Friday night during a ceremony at his alma mater, Verbum Dei.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• academy