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

Today, the University recruits students and VIPs (like NFL stars, Olympic athletes, and high-profile alumni) to lead the Two-Bits cheer and rile up the crowd, and it’s always done in the spirit of Florida pride with no ulterior financial motive, as Edmondson himself established. —Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025

A number of Indigenous alumni quoted in the book say their next goal is to host a campus powwow, a colorful festival filled with Native drummers, traditional dancing, crafts, frybread, meat pies and Native games like stickball, which evolved into lacrosse. —Hollace Ava Weiner, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2025

Another significant alumnus is Jim Daly, who completed his MBA in international business at Regis University in 1997 and has led Focus on the Family, the influential evangelical organization based in Colorado Springs, since 2005. —Dave Smith, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025

Cheerleaders greeted event guests at the entrance, including School District administrators, School Board members, local politicians, construction firm representatives and alumni. —Edward McKinnon, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 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