Word
alumni
Phoneticsalum·ni
US/əˈɫəmˌnaɪ/
UK/ɐlˈʌmni/
Definition
n. the people who have graduated from a school or university.
n. 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.
Examples
“The university invites all alumni to the homecoming game.”
“The school relies on its alumni for donations and to mentor current students entering the workforce.”
“The prestigious institution boasts an impressive network of alumni, including several Nobel laureates and former heads of state who frequently return for guest lectures.”
Examples
simple
“The university invites all alumni to the homecoming game.”
contextual
“The school relies on its alumni for donations and to mentor current students entering the workforce.”
complex
“The prestigious institution boasts an impressive network of alumni, including several Nobel laureates and former heads of state who frequently return for guest lectures.”
Usage
Usually functions as a plural noun taking a plural verb.
Teaching 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.
Real-World Examples
“Additionally, we interviewed five parents and two alumni from the school who had reached college age.” “Between 10% and 15% of Ivy League students are legacy , and are favoured in order to promote donations and alumni networks.” Etymology
From Latin alumni.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/alumni