Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The school, college, or university that one has attended.
  • noun The anthem of an institution of higher learning.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Literally, fostering mother: in modern use, applied by students to the university or college in which they have been trained.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • A college or seminary where one is educated.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A school or college from which an individual has graduated or which they have attended.
  • noun A school's anthem or song.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun your alma mater is a school you graduated from

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From Latin Alma Māter, nourishing mother (epithet of certain goddesses) : alma, feminine of almus, nourishing; see al- in Indo-European roots + māter, mother; see maternal.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Latin for "nourishing mother". Derives from the full name ("Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna") of the oldest European university, the University of Bologna (founded in 1088).

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Examples

  • Turned out the woman had been convicted of fraud, and her alma mater was the continuing education program at the women's state prison.

    Hire With Caution 2006

  • But it also is, I believe, because poetry goes to the heart more than the head, and that, after all, is where one's alma mater lives.

    William L. Fox: A University President Speaks Through Verse William L. Fox 2011

  • Stephen D. Susman jokes that he didn't want to trouble his family with the decision on how best to honor him and his beloved alma mater, Yale University.

    Gallery Gift Inspired by Free Drinks Melanie Grayce West 2012

  • Those who have not yet made the update are in for a more image-heavy look, with a series of photos in which you have recently been tagged appearing at the top of the page, just under a row of text identifying personal information, such as your hometown, profession, birthday, and alma mater.

    New Facebook Profile Design Is Now Official The Huffington Post 2011

  • Personalized jewelry and accessories are meaningful gifts that grads will cherish forever, even after that alma mater sweatshirt is stretched and pilled.

    Katie Campbell: 10 Gift Ideas for the Modern Graduate Katie Campbell 2011

  • Reach out to your employer and alma mater for assistance since they may have connections with admissions officers.

    Fellowships Build Skills Emily Glazer 2012

  • The move elicited chants of "Eddie, Eddie, Eddie" from supporters assembled in the auditorium of Mangano's alma mater, Bethpage High School, 30 miles east of New York City.

    How A NY Tax Cut Backfired On The Tea Party Nicole Hardesty 2011

  • But it also is, I believe, because poetry goes to the heart more than the head, and that, after all, is where one's alma mater lives.

    William L. Fox: A University President Speaks Through Verse William L. Fox 2011

  • The move elicited chants of "Eddie, Eddie, Eddie" from supporters assembled in the auditorium of Mangano's alma mater, Bethpage High School, 30 miles east of New York City.

    How A NY Tax Cut Backfired On The Tea Party Nicole Hardesty 2011

  • Personalized jewelry and accessories are meaningful gifts that grads will cherish forever, even after that alma mater sweatshirt is stretched and pilled.

    Katie Campbell: 10 Gift Ideas for the Modern Graduate Katie Campbell 2011

Comments

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  • "It's time to call my father

    'Cause it's his alma mater

    Good grades aren't what they seem

    I think he knows the dean

    It's time to call my father

    'Cause it's his alma mater

    He says he's proud of me

    But college always was his dream

    And I would always say it's not for me

    Oh no, not for me, not for me

    Call it torture, call it university

    No, Arts and Crafts is all I need

    I'll take Calligraphy and then I'll make a fake degree"

    -Relient K

    October 17, 2007

  • Nice :)

    Who doesn't love this word? Not me!

    February 12, 2009

  • I don't particularly like this word. I think the mater part is kind of ugly.

    February 12, 2009

  • 'Mater' is latin word for Mother. Alma mater means ' Soul Mother' which logically refers to School or University where you have learnt.

    October 22, 2013

  • Logically?

    October 22, 2013