English Reference
Noun

alumnus

n.
C1 Advanced US /əˈɫəmnəs/ UK /ɐlˈʌmnəs/ alum·nus

n.a former student of a school, college, or university. You use this word to describe someone who has finished their studies and left the institution.

n.a former student of a school, college, or university. Often used in formal or official contexts to refer to graduates.


SIMPLE

The university invited every alumnus to the graduation ceremony.

CONTEXTUAL

The college maintains a strong network of alumni who often return to give guest lectures or donate to the school.

COMPLEX

While the term 'alumnus' is technically correct for a male graduate, many institutions now use the gender-neutral 'alum' to ensure inclusivity in their communications.

Back in Toronto, Habib, the alumnus of the Canadian Film Centre, was just finishing his first feature, Fat Lady Sriracha , when his life was cruelly cut short.

Toronto Sun· 9 Sept 2026

Learned borrowing from Latin alumnus (“foster child, nourished one”).

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

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated