Definition of alumnus
alumni
play \-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
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Examples of alumnus in a sentence
Her parents are alumni of the state university.
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.
Origin and Etymology of alumnus
Latin, foster son, pupil, from alere to nourish — more at old
First Known Use: 1645
Other Education Terms
ALUMNUS Defined for English Language Learners
alumnus
playDefinition of alumnus for English Language Learners
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: someone who was a student at a particular school, college, or university
ALUMNUS Defined for Kids
alumnus
playDefinition of alumnus for Students
alumni
\-ˌnī\: a person who has attended or has graduated from a school, college, or university
Learn More about alumnus
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Spanish Central: Translation of alumnus Nglish: Translation of alumnus for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of alumnus for Arabic speakers
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