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

Friends, family and alumni surrounded the field donning merchandise that celebrated an iconic career, in which LaChapelle won a state-record 411 games. —Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 27 Nov. 2025

Entrepreneurship is a very real part of our MBA programme and many of our students and alumni start their own businesses. —Kathy Harvey, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2025

On this episode, the New Directions alumni return to William McKinley High to lend a helping hand to interim coach Finn (the late Cory Monteith) in prepping the current glee club for Sectionals. —Shay Spence, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025

Ward is a Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist for the 10th straight year (2017-26), after playing 14 seasons for the Steelers, who selected the Georgia alumnus in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. —Garrett Behanna, CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025

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