alumna

noun

alum·​na ə-ˈləm-nə 

plural alumnae ə-ˈləm-(ˌ)nē 

 also  -ˌnī

1

: a girl or woman who has attended or has graduated from a particular school, college, or university

an alumna of Smith College

2

: a girl or woman who is a former member, employee, contributor, or inmate

an alumna of a TV series

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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

a group of Harvard alumnae

Recent Examples on the Web

Luk, a Stripe alumna, is now the CEO of the business, launched in 2022; Allen is its chief technology officer. —Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 9 May 2024

State alumna Christie Lewis told FOX 10 in Phoenix how she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer while attending the university around 2011 or 2012. —Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, feminine of alumnus

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

alumna

noun

alum·​na ə-ˈləm-nə 

plural alumnae -(ˌ)nē 

: a girl or woman who has attended or graduated from a particular school, college, or university