alma mater
/'ælmə'meitə/
Definition
- Noun:
- The school, college, or university that one has attended and, typically, graduated from: The term "alma mater" refers to an institution of learning from which a person has received their education. It often carries a sense of pride, loyalty, and emotional connection.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- Harvard University is my alma mater. (This means the speaker graduated from Harvard University.)
- She made a generous donation to her alma mater. (This means she gave money to the school she graduated from.)
- The football team returned to play a game at their coach's alma mater. (This means the team played at the school their coach graduated from.)
Advanced Usage
- Used figuratively for formative institutions: While most commonly used for universities, "alma mater" can sometimes be applied to one's high school, especially in contexts where it was a significant formative experience.
- Although he earned his doctorate elsewhere, he always considered the small liberal arts college his true alma mater.
Variants and Related Words
- Alumnus/Alumna (n.): A male/female graduate or former student of a particular school, college, or university. (Plural: Alumni, Alumnae).
- As an alumnus of Yale, he receives the university magazine.
- Alumni (n., plural): The collective body of graduates or former students of an institution.
- The alumni association organized a reunion.
Synonyms
- One's old school: A more informal way to refer to the school one attended.
- Alma mater itself is the most specific and formal term; direct synonyms are rare as it is a fixed Latin phrase.
Related Phrases
- Alma Mater Society: A common name for student unions or governing bodies at universities, particularly in Canada.
- He was elected president of the Alma Mater Society.
Related Idioms
- There are no common idioms using "alma mater" as a standalone phrase. Its usage is typically direct and literal, referring to the educational institution itself.
Noun
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your alma mater is a school you graduated from
