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

Famous alumni include Paul Reubens, Jon Lovitz, Maya Rudolph, Jennifer Coolidge, Will Forte, Lisa Kudrow, Jimmy Fallon, Mikey Day and Heidi Gardner, among many others. —Anne Easton, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024

Lynch, the University of California, Berkeley, alumnus and Oakland native, said he was encouraged to run but joked about how his campaign would mirror the Head of State movie, which co-starred Chris Rock and the late Bernie Mac. —Barnini Chakraborty, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 11 Oct. 2024

From politicians to artists, their alumni are basically the superheroes of their fields. —Shelby Stewart, Essence, 8 Oct. 2024

Also an alumni of Central Saint Martins, Blakeman has a longstanding partnership with Grace Wales Bonner, worked under Phoebe Philo at Céline, and more recently developed the Guinness pint print for J.W. Anderson. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2024

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

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