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Definition of alumnus

alumnus

/əˈlʌm.nəs/
a · lum · nus
Plural:alumni
•
Adjective:alumnal
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alumnus Lexical Profile

alumnus Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A graduate or former student of a specific school, college, or university.

Example

"As a proud alumnus of the university, he frequently returns to mentor current undergraduate students."

2

A former member, employee, contributor, or associate of an organization, company, or program.

Example

"The tech startup was founded by an alumnus of a major aerospace agency."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for alumnus

Word Nuance & Usage

Traditionally in Latin-derived usage, 'alumnus' refers to a male graduate (plural 'alumni') and 'alumna' to a female graduate (plural 'alumnae'), though 'alumnus' and 'alumni' are widely used in modern English as gender-neutral terms.

• Rhymes for alumnus

• Nearby Words

alum
aluminum
alumna
alumnus
alupag
always
alyssum

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the mid-17th century directly from Latin 'alumnus', meaning 'foster son' or 'pupil', derived from the verb 'alere' ('to nourish').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Alumnus. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/alumnus
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