alma mater
AL-muh MAH-tur
/ˌæl.mə ˈmɑː.tər/
The school, college, or university that one graduated from; or the official anthem of that institution.
Expresses an affectionate bond toward the school that provided one's education.
The story behind the word. In Latin, alma mater means 'nourishing mother'. While Romans applied it to mother goddesses, medieval universities adopted the term to describe how higher learning feeds and nurtures student intellect.
Word relationships
- former university: Former university is purely neutral, whereas alma mater carries emotional warmth and respect.
Commonly confused with
- alumni: Alma mater is the institution ('nourishing mother'), while alumni are the former students who graduated from it.
Collocations
- sing the alma mater
- return to one's alma mater
- cherished alma mater
Example sentences
- "Twenty years after graduation, she returned to her alma mater to deliver the keynote speech." Alumni visit
- "The crowd stood up and sang the school's alma mater at the conclusion of commencement." Ceremonial song
Memory hook
ALMA MATER = Nurturing Mother of minds! Nourishing mother school.
When not to use
Do not use for a school you attended briefly without graduating.
Fun facts
- The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, bears the official motto Alma Mater Studiorum ('Nourishing Mother of Studies').
Related words
Explore more words
Alumni, alumnus, matriculate, homecoming, allegiance, educate
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