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
Phil KloerExamples of alma mater in a Sentence
I visited my old alma mater last week.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hall of Fame siblings Cheryl Miller (USC) and Reggie Miller (UCLA) sat courtside in their respective alma mater's jerseys.
—CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
Some 24 hours before taking the floor at Fiserv Forum on Friday night, Knueppel spent some time at his alma mater, Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, being presented with a framed Duke jersey that will hang somewhere on the campus grounds.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 3 Jan. 2026
Coogler connected with Boseman through a similar incident at Boseman’s alma mater.
—Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 3 Jan. 2026
Goslin, 27, has returned to her alma mater as the varsity coach, after serving for two years as the freshman coach.
—Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for alma mater
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CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
Some 24 hours before taking the floor at Fiserv Forum on Friday night, Knueppel spent some time at his alma mater, Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, being presented with a framed Duke jersey that will hang somewhere on the campus grounds.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 3 Jan. 2026
Coogler connected with Boseman through a similar incident at Boseman’s alma mater.
—Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 3 Jan. 2026
Goslin, 27, has returned to her alma mater as the varsity coach, after serving for two years as the freshman coach.
—Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for alma mater
Cite this Entry
“Alma mater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alma%20mater. Accessed 5 Jan. 2026.
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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
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