ENGLISH
REFERENCE

alumni

n.
US //əˈɫəmˌnaɪ// UK //ɐlˈʌmni// alum·ni
  1. 1 former students as a group (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    the people who have graduated from a school or university.

    the collective body of graduates or former students of a specific institution. Historically the masculine plural, it now serves as the standard collective noun for all former students regardless of gender.

    Example

    The university invited all its alumni to a special dinner to celebrate the anniversary.

    Example

    The university's alumni association maintains a global network that provides mentorship and career opportunities for recent graduates.

    Usage

    Usually functions as a plural noun taking a plural verb.

    Teacher's tip

    While some speakers use 'alumni' for a single person in casual speech, this is considered incorrect in academic or formal contexts.
    Pitfall
    I am an alumni of Oxford University.
    I am an alumnus of Oxford University.

    In formal writing, 'alumni' is plural. Use 'alumnus' (male), 'alumna' (female), or 'graduate' (neutral) for one person.

Origin

From Latin alumni.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026