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

Cynthia acts almost like a sorority big sister or alumni mentor, eager to help mold the next generation. —Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 8 June 2026

The alumni center is located near Triton Health and Wellness, an airy, four-story building that offers primary and urgent care, as well as mental health services, which are in demand by the school’s largely Gen Z students. —Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026

Pratt attended the Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences in Santa Monica, a private high school known for its many famous alumni, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson, Jack Black and others. —Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026

Their alumni also make up about 1 in 12 of the nation’s top earners and 1 in 8 Fortune 500 CEOs. —Prasad Krishnamurthy, Mercury News, 4 June 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