Definition · Plain-language
Alumnus
An alumnus is a graduate or former student of a school, college or university, with distinct Latin forms for gender and number.
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The Latin forms
Because alumnus comes directly from Latin, it keeps Latin grammatical endings. Alumnus refers to one male former student; alumna to one female former student. The plurals follow suit: alumni is the plural for men and is also used for any mixed-gender group, while alumnae is the plural used only for a group of women. In everyday speech and writing, many people now use the clipped, gender-neutral forms “alum” (singular) and “alums” (plural) to sidestep the gendered endings.
Who counts as an alumnus
In the broadest sense, an alumnus is anyone who has attended an institution, but usage often centres on those who graduated. Many universities maintain an alumni association and an alumni relations or development office that keeps in touch with former students, organises reunions, and invites philanthropic support. Being an alumnus can bring continued benefits — library or networking access, event invitations and mentoring opportunities — and alumni are an important part of an institution’s reputation and fundraising base.
Common usage pitfalls
The most frequent error is treating alumni as a singular word: a single graduate is an alumnus or alumna, not “an alumni”. Another is using alumnae for a mixed group, when alumni is correct. Because the gendered system can feel dated or awkward, style guidance increasingly accepts “alum” and “alums” as neutral alternatives, and some institutions adopt these officially. When precision matters, match the form to gender and number; when neutrality matters, the “alum” forms are a safe choice.
Key facts
At a glance
- Definition: A graduate or former student of an institution.
- Alumnus: One man (singular masculine).
- Alumna: One woman (singular feminine).
- Alumni: Plural for men or any mixed group.
- Alumnae: Plural for women only.
- Neutral form: “Alum” (singular), “alums” (plural).
Common misconceptions
What people often get wrong
Often heard: “Alumni” is the correct word for a single graduate.
Actually: Alumni is plural. A single graduate is an alumnus (man) or alumna (woman); the gender-neutral singular short form is “alum”.
Often heard: “Alumnae” works for any group of former students.
Actually: Alumnae is the plural for a group of women only. For men or a mixed-gender group, the correct plural is alumni.
Often heard: Only people who graduated can be called alumni.
Actually: Usage often centres on graduates, but in the broad sense an alumnus is anyone who attended the institution, whether or not they completed a degree.
