magna cum laude

American  

[mahg-nuh koom lou-dey, -duh, -dee, mag-nuh kuhm law-dee] / ˈmɑg nə kʊm ˈlaʊ deɪ, -də, -di, ˈmæg nə kʌm ˈlɔ di /

adverb

1. with great praise: used in diplomas to grant the next-to-highest of three special honors for grades above the average.

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magna cum laude British  

/ ˈmæɡnə kʊm ˈlaʊdeɪ /

1. with great praise: the second of three designations for above-average achievement in examinations Compare cum laude summa cum laude

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Etymology

Origin of magna cum laude

First recorded in 1895–1900, magna cum laude is from Latin magnā cum laude

Example Sentences

She graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz science communication master’s program and earned a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College, magna cum laude.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

Fugate is a self-described “Trumplican” who interned for state lawmakers in Austin before graduating magna cum laude a year ago with a degree in politics and law from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

From Salon • Jun. 5, 2025

Marlowe would go on to graduate from West Georgia magna cum laude in premed biology, and he was the first West Georgia student-athlete to earn Academic All-America recognition, in any sport, in five years.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 25, 2023

In May 2015, she graduated magna cum laude from State University of New York, and two months later, she reported to jail.

From National Geographic • Aug. 7, 2023

A magna cum laude graduate, she majored in political science in college and was deeply involved in campus social affairs, especially in anti- discrimination and anti-nuclear issues.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos