SKIP TO CONTENT

alumnus

/əˈlʌmnəs/
/əˈlʌmnəs/
IPA guide

Other forms: alumni

An alumnus is a graduate of a school. You can be an alumnus of a high school, college or university.

Want to be an alumnus? Then you'd better study hard and graduate: an alumnus has received a diploma or degree from a school. You've probably heard of some famous or successful alumni (the plural of alumnus from your own school: schools tend to be proud of students who have gone on to do well. Schools also like to ask each alumnus (famous or not) to give back to the school — usually monetarily.

Definitions of alumnus
  1. noun
    a person who has received a degree from a school (high school or college or university)
    synonyms: alum, alumna, grad, graduate
    see moresee less
    types:
    Ivy Leaguer
    a student or graduate at an Ivy League school
    old boy
    a former male pupil of a school
    type of:
    bookman, scholar, scholarly person, student
    a learned person (especially in the humanities); someone who by long study has gained mastery in one or more disciplines
Pronunciation
US
/əˈlʌmnəs/
UK
/əˈlʌmnəs/
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘alumnus'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of gold-punch.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family