alumnus

noun

alum·​nus ə-ˈləm-nəs 

plural alumni ə-ˈləm-ˌnī 

1

: a person who has attended or has graduated from a particular school, college, or university

an alumnus of Columbia University

—usually used of a man in the singular but often of men and women in the plural

2

: a person who is a former member, employee, contributor, or inmate

a Saturday Night Live alumnus

Did you know?

Alumnus or Alumna?

Many people are comfortable using the word alumni to refer to someone who was a student of a particular school. However, others feel quite strongly that this is an error and that the following forms should be used: alumnus (for one male), alumni (for multiple males, or for a mix of males and females), alumna (for one female), and alumnae (for multiple females). The shortened form alum and its plural form alums began to be used in the 19th century. Initially, alum was widely viewed as highly colloquial or informal, but is increasing in use as a gender-neutral alternative.

Examples of alumnus in a Sentence

Her parents are alumni of the state university.

Recent Examples on the Web

Lori Miltenberg, representing the Valparaiso University Alumni Association and nearly 70,000 alumni around the world, urged the grads to continue to allow VU alumni to guide them. —Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026

There they’ll be joined by the alumni of the APA’s inaugural edition, who will participate in the investor program alongside the incoming cohort. —Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 15 May 2026

In recent months, the DOJ had asked medical schools for information from student applications, including test scores, race, ZIP codes, and alumni ties. —Anil Oza, STAT, 15 May 2026

McFarlane was swiftly elevated to lead the club’s development squad last year before moving up to Liam Rosenior’s backroom staff in January, when fellow Kinetic Academy alumni Harry Hudson and Dan Hogan were appointed to key roles coaching the club’s under-21s and under-18s. —Liam Twomey, New York Times, 15 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin, "male nursing child, man produced by some formative agent (as a nation or race)," from alere "to nourish" + -mn-, mediopassive participle suffix — more at old entry 1

First Known Use

1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for alumnus

• dumbness
• numbness

Kids Definition

alumnus

noun

alum·​nus ə-ˈləm-nəs 

plural alumni -ˌnī 

: a person who has attended or has graduated from a particular school, college, or university

Etymology

Latin, literally "foster son," from alere "to nourish" — related to alimentary, alma mater