alma mater

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

NOUN

school from which one has graduated

Synonyms

STRONGEST

academy

WEAK

college institution old school place of graduation place of matriculation university

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Alumni now only have the illusion of choice in who guides their alma mater.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

We have no heirs and plan to leave our assets to an endowed scholarship at my alma mater, plus a smaller gift to a local university program.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

To some donors, their love for their alma mater may outweigh any tax benefit.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

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 • Mar. 2, 2026

The chairs in his study bear the logo from their alma mater, Yale, which Vic notes the family mispronounces as jail.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

alma mater

Example Sentences

Related Words