alumnus
Origin of alumnus
usage note for alumnus
Words nearby alumnus
ALUMNUS VS. ALUMNI VS. ALUMNA VS. ALUMNAE VS. ALUM
What’s the difference between alumnus and alumni?
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 alumnus and alumni 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 alumnus and alumni.
Quiz yourself on alumnus vs. alumni!
Should alumnus or alumni be used in the following sentence?
The five-year reunion is usually well attended by _____.