alumni
uh-LUM-nye
/əˈlʌm.naɪ/
Former students or graduates of a particular school, college, or university.
A plural noun referring collectively to all former graduates of an institution.
The story behind the word. From Latin alumnus, meaning 'foster child' or 'nurtured pupil', derived from alere ('to nourish'). Graduates are metaphorically the nourished children of their alma mater.
Word relationships
- graduates: Graduates refers to people who recently completed their degree, whereas alumni refers to all past graduates over time.
- undergraduates: Undergraduates are current students who have not yet completed their first degree.
Commonly confused with
- alumnus: Alumnus is singular, while alumni is plural.
Word family
- alumnus (noun): A single male or gender-neutral graduate.
- alumna (noun): A single female graduate.
Collocations
- alumni association
- distinguished alumni
- alumni network
Example sentences
- "The university's generous alumni funded the construction of the new science library." University fundraising
- "Thousands of alumni gathered on campus for homecoming weekend." Campus reunion
Memory hook
ALUMNI = All Luminary Nurtured Individuals! Nourished foster children of a school.
When not to use
Do not use 'alumni' for a single individual; use 'alumnus' (male/neutral), 'alumna' (female), or 'alum' (informal).
Fun facts
- To avoid Latin gender complexities, the informal singular 'alum' and plural 'alums' are widely used today.
Related words
Explore more words
coeducation, single-sex, descendant, progeny, veteran, emeritus
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