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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 alumna in a Sentence
Arkansas Online, 22 June 2025
After Can't Be Tamed attempted to shed Cyrus' image as a Disney darling, Bangerz succeeded with bold electro-pop tinged with hip-hop influences and featuring stars such as Nelly, Future, Big Sean and fellow Disney alumna Britney Spears.
—Brendan Le, People.com, 18 June 2025
Antoinette Burton is a professor of history at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an alumna of The Op Ed Project.
—Antoinette Burton, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2025
Lead producer Brian Anthony Moreland spearheaded Othello to the stage, alongside co-producers including Real Housewives of Atlanta alumna Burrus and her husband, Todd Tucker.
—Sharareh Drury, People.com, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for alumna
Cite this Entry
“Alumna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alumna. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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