noun
Uncommon
alumni
uh-LUHM-neye
Alumni (noun) means Former students or graduates of a school, college, or university, considered as a group. Example: “The alumni association hosts an annual fundraising dinner.”
noun
1
Former students or graduates of a school, college, or university, considered as a group.
"The alumni association hosts an annual fundraising dinner."
"Several alumni returned to the school to talk to current pupils about their careers."
"The college newsletter keeps its alumni informed about reunions and news."
How to use alumni
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA group of people who used to attend a particular school or university.
Common mistake
Strictly, "alumni" is plural (or male/mixed); "alumnus" is one male graduate, "alumna" one female graduate, and "alumnae" a group of female graduates. Many people now use "alumni" loosely for any group.
Common pairings
alumni association
notable alumni
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Word forms
- Plural
- alumnis
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ association hosts an annual fundraising dinner.
Etymology
The Latin plural of alumnus, "foster son" or "pupil."
Synonyms
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graduates
former students
alums
past students
old boys
Frequently asked questions
What does “alumni” mean?
The word “alumni” means former students or graduates of a school, college, or university, considered as a group. In plain terms, a group of people who used to attend a particular school or university.
How do you pronounce “alumni”?
“Alumni” is pronounced uh-LUHM-neye (/əˈlʌmnaɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “alumni” in a sentence?
Here is “alumni” used in a sentence: “The alumni association hosts an annual fundraising dinner.”
What part of speech is “alumni”?
“Alumni” is a noun.
Where does the word “alumni” come from?
The word “alumni” comes from Latin. The Latin plural of alumnus, "foster son" or "pupil.".
Is “alumni” a common word?
“Alumni” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between alumni, alumnus, alumna, and alumnae?
Alumnus refers to one male graduate and alumna to one female graduate. Alumni is the plural for a group of male or mixed graduates, while alumnae is the plural for a group of female graduates. In everyday English, alumni is commonly used for any group of former students.
Is alumni singular or plural?
Alumni is plural. A single graduate is an alumnus (male) or alumna (female), so referring to one person as an alumni is technically incorrect, though the error is common in casual speech.
Can you say 'an alumni'?
Strictly, no. Because alumni is a plural form, one person should be called an alumnus or alumna. Many speakers use the informal shortening alum as a gender-neutral singular instead.
What is the difference between alumni and graduates?
Both refer to people who have completed a course of study, but alumni specifically frames them as the ongoing community tied to a particular institution. Graduates is a broader, more neutral word that can describe someone the moment they finish, whereas alumni stresses the lasting association.
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