alumna

[uh-luhm-nuh]

See more synonyms for alumna on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural a·lum·nae

[uh-luhm-nee, -nahy] /əˈlʌm ni, -naɪ/.

a woman who is a graduate or former student of a specific school, college, or university.

Origin of alumna

1880–85, Americanism; < Latin: foster daughter, pupil; feminine of alumnus

Can be confusedalum alumna alumnae alumni alumnus (see usage note at alumnus)

Usage note

See alumnus.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for alumna

Contemporary Examples

The ‘SNL’ alumna is back with her first film since ‘Bridesmaids.’
Kristen Wiig on ‘Girl Most Likely’ and Why She Nixed ‘Bridesmaids 2’
Marlow Stern
July 18, 2013
"Women are expected to do everything, do it well, and look hot while doing it," one alumna told the commission.
Princeton's Woman Problem
Evan Thomas
March 21, 2011
“You are buying into that network,” says one recent Harvard alumna.
Ivy League After Dark
Rebecca Davis O'Brien
March 21, 2011
“They claim me as an alumna, though I did not alum,” she said.
Melissa Leo Breaks Oscar Silence
Jacob Bernstein
February 21, 2011

Historical Examples

To the alumna and the student, the picture called up by those words is sufficiently definite and demands no amplification.
Teddy: Her Book
Anna Chapin Ray
It was founded by an alumna for marked proficiency in English with general excellency in other lines.
Daddy Long-Legs
Jean Webster
A debate was sometimes introduced, a Shakespeare reading, or an address by an alumna student.
Earliest Years at Vassar
Frances A. Wood

British Dictionary definitions for alumna

alumna

noun plural -nae (-niː)

mainly US and Canadian a female graduate of a school, college, etc

Word Origin

C19: feminine of alumnus

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for alumna

n.

see alumnus.

alumna

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}alumna

Usage note

Examples from the Web for alumna

Contemporary Examples

The ‘SNL’ alumna is back with her first film since ‘Bridesmaids.’

"Women are expected to do everything, do it well, and look hot while doing it," one alumna told the commission.

“You are buying into that network,” says one recent Harvard alumna.

“They claim me as an alumna, though I did not alum,” she said.

Historical Examples

To the alumna and the student, the picture called up by those words is sufficiently definite and demands no amplification.

It was founded by an alumna for marked proficiency in English with general excellency in other lines.

A debate was sometimes introduced, a Shakespeare reading, or an address by an alumna student.

alumna

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for alumna

n.

Origin of alumna