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

The bands, alumni and game-day traditions still frame the scene, but conference races are tightening and every possession begins to carry a little more weight. — Wilton Jackson, AJC.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Carnegie Mellon’s roots and alumni Dating back to the turn of the century, steel magnate Andrew Carnegie established the original school in 1900 as a technical college in Pittsburgh, where his company was based. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026

The film, an alumnus of DFM’s influential pitching and finance forum, was selected to highlight the event’s outsized impact on the African filmmaking community. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026

Natalie Maguire, Venus Binkley, Chris Hahn, Angelica Jensen, Marcus Johnson and Audrey Lingle join from the new Vanderpump Rules cast, while alumni Lala Kent and Tom Schwartz make appearances in the trailer. — Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 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