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alumni

[ uh-luhm-nahy ]
/ əˈlʌm naɪ /
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noun
the plural of alumnus.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

ALUMNI VS. ALUMNUS VS. ALUM VS. ALUMNA VS. ALUMNAE

What’s the difference between alumni and alumnus?

An alumnus is a graduate of a school, such as a high school or university. The plural of alumnus is alumni (which follows the plural ending construction used in other Latin-derived words, like stimulus and stimuli).

In Latin, alumnus specifically refers to a male graduate, and sometimes this distinction is carried into English, with alumna being used to refer to a female graduate. The plural of alumna is alumnae.

Still, alumnus and alumni are both commonly used in a gender-neutral way.

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 alumni and alumnus used correctly in the same sentence.

Example: As an alumnus, you share something with all of the alumni, regardless of when each of you graduated. 

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between alumni and alumnus.

Quiz yourself on alumni vs. alumnus!

Should alumni or alumnus be used in the following sentence?

The five-year reunion is usually well attended by _____.

How to use alumni in a sentence

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