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

Several Lincoln University alumni and current students are suing Missouri, claiming the state has systematically underfunded the historically Black university for decades. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026

Durban FilmMart Institute director Magdalene Reddy says the film — a co-production forum alumnus — was selected to highlight the event’s outsized impact on the African filmmaking community. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

The viral post – and a lack of response by the Harvard administration, led by then-President Claudine Gay – drew condemnation from Harvard alumni, including lawmakers, and from former Harvard President Lawrence Summers. — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Oct. 2026

At a University of Pennsylvania alumni event during the Stanford Blockchain Conference in 2024, Ma met Catrina Wang, a fellow alum and general partner at Portal Ventures. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 7 Oct. 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