alumna
Americannoun
plural
alumnaenoun
Usage
What’s the difference between alumna, alumnus, and alumni? An alumna is a female graduate of a school, such as a high school or university.In Latin, alumnus specifically refers to a male graduate, and sometimes this distinction is carried into English. However, alumnus is also commonly used in a gender-neutral way, as is its plural, alumni.What is the plural of alumna?The plural of alumna is alumnae. This follows the plural ending construction used in other Latin-derived words, like antenna and antennae.The informal shortening alum is used to refer to a single graduate (regardless of gender). It’s sometimes pluralized as alums.Here’s an example of alumna and alumnae used correctly in the same sentence.Example: As an alumna, you share something with all of the alumnae, regardless of when each of you graduated. Want to learn more? Read the breakdown of the difference between alumnus and alumni.
Gender
What's the difference between alumna, alumnus, and alum? See alumnus.
Etymology
Origin of alumna
An Americanism dating back to 1840–45; from Latin: literally, “foster daughter, pupil”; feminine of alumnus
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sara is an alumna of the University of Virginia and Columbia University's School of Journalism.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026
Consumer Cards, which is to be led by Pam Habner, a JPMorgan Chase alumna who currently heads branded cards and lending.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025
"In nonlinear optics, light can be reshaped to create new colors, faster pulses or optical switches that turn signals on and off," said Kunyan Zhang, a Rice doctoral alumna and first author of the study.
From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2025
“It’s a very different program to other summers,” said Gallegos, who is an alumna of the program.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 12, 2025
Patients, with accompanying nurses, made their rounds of the stocked shelves, conversing in low tones, with the asylum librarian, an alumna of the asylum herself.
From "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
