alumnus

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'alumnus' is correct and usable in written English.
An alumnus can be used to refer to a male former student or graduate of a school, college, or university. Example sentence: The school's most famous alumnus was the late actor James Dean.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But soon afterwards he joined the Spanish-based international brand consultancy Saffron, started by a Wolff Olins alumnus, Jacob Benbunan, as a hands-on chairman.

The Guardian

Related: All 68 NCAA tournament schools ranked by coolest alumnus We could hardly believe our good fortune when, for the first time in history, each of the four No1 seeds made the Final Four.

The Guardian - Sport

The Voice alumnus scored a breakout hit with God Made Girls, which proved as popular as it was divisive, and her debut EP is filled with similar songs like For a Boy that take a wide-eyed approach to young love.

The Guardian - Music

You're an alumnus of the Alpha Iota chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority.

The Guardian - Music

"[Mackintosh] was driven by a lifelong search for new forms in architecture and technology and was never a copyist," says Alan Dunlop, a Mack alumnus and professor of architecture at Aberdeen's Robert Gordon University.

The Guardian - Arts

Perhaps no Idol alumnus has been more ubiquitously successful than Carrie Underwood, country music's most successful female star at the moment.

The Guardian - Music

MO'L He is the shock-haired, potty-mouthed, self-styled ambassador for the Outback; a talented Scots-born alumnus of Marco Pierre White's Hyde Park Hotel with a global TV series and a mission to play a key part in the creation of an authentic Australian cuisine.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I was hoping that my status as an alumnus, my fundraising track record with Amref (African Medical & Research Foundation) and the fact that I had bravely faced pre-marital wrath to take the interview, would outweigh my woeful knowledge of the higher education sector.

The Guardian

Rachel Siewert, Greens senator for WA and a UWA alumnus, told Guardian Australia that she was relieved the university had responded to pressure from its academics.

The Guardian

Click here to watch Back in the relatively halcyon days of 2013, The X Factor was so bereft of ideas that it made the contestants cover songs by previous contestants (oddly missing out 2004 alumnus Tabby Callaghan's presumptuously named single, Number One, or any songs from his subsequent album, Bread vs Art).

The Guardian - Music

Compare it to another Disney alumnus, Kiely Williams, of another multimillion dollar selling Disney product, The Cheetah Girls.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a group of male and female graduates, use "alumni" as the plural form, or consider using gender-neutral language like "graduates" or "former students."

Common error

Avoid using "alumnus" as the plural form; the correct plural is "alumni". Remember that "alumna" is the feminine singular form, and "alumnae" is the feminine plural.

Linguistic Context

The word "alumnus" functions primarily as a noun. It is used to identify a male individual who has graduated from a school, college, or university. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "alumnus" is a noun referring to a male graduate or former student of a school, college, or university. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is grammatically correct and widely used in English. It's crucial to remember that the plural form is "alumni", and "alumna" is the feminine singular form. The examples from Ludwig highlight its usage in diverse contexts, from news and media to formal business settings. When writing, use "alumnus" to correctly identify a male graduate, and consider using gender-neutral terms like "graduates" or "former students" when referring to mixed groups.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Graduate

Refers to someone who has completed a course of study or training.

Former student

Directly indicates someone who was previously enrolled in an educational institution.

Alumna

Specifically refers to a female graduate or former student.

Alum

A shortened, informal version of alumnus or alumna.

Ex-student

Similar to 'former student', emphasizing the past enrollment status.

Past pupil

Emphasizes the relationship of having been a student at a particular school.

Member of the alumni

Describes someone who belongs to the alumni association or community.

Old boy

An informal term, typically used in British English, to refer to a male alumnus.

Old girl

An informal term, typically used in British English, to refer to a female alumna.

School leaver

Refers to someone who has recently finished their education at a school.

FAQs

How do I use "alumnus" in a sentence?

"Alumnus" refers to a male graduate or former student. For example, "He is a proud "alumnus" of Harvard University."

What is the difference between "alumnus" and "alumna"?

"Alumnus" is the masculine singular form, referring to a male graduate. "Alumna" is the feminine singular form, referring to a female graduate. The plural form for a group of both men and women is "alumni".

What's the plural of alumnus?

The plural of "alumnus" is "alumni". It's important to use the correct plural form when referring to multiple graduates.

What can I say instead of "alumnus"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "graduate", "former student", or "alum".