An alumnus (pl. alumni) according to the American Heritage Dictionary is "a male graduate or former
student of a school, college, or university." [1] In
addition, an alumna (pl. alumnae) is "a woman graduate or former student of a school, college, or university." [2]
Origin
In Latin grammar, nouns are constructed
according to case, gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter), and number (singular or plural). The Latin word, "alumnus" thus has
four forms in the nominative case: “alumnus” (masculine, singular), “alumna” (feminine,
singular), “alumni” (masculine, plural), and “alumnae” (feminine, plural). [3], [4]
Usage
As indicated in the American Heritage
Dictionary, an alumnus/alumna is either someone who has attended the school (or a "former student of a school") or
someone who has graduated from the school.[5][6] Furthermore, according to dictionary.reference.com and the United States
Department of Education, the term alumnae is used either in conjunction with women's colleges[7] or a female
group of students. The term alumni is used either in conjunction with men's
colleges, a male group of students, or a mixed group of students:
- Traditionally, the masculine plural alumni has been used for groups composed of both sexes and is still widely so used:
the alumni of Indiana University. Sometimes, to avoid any suggestion of sexism, both terms are used for mixed groups: the
alumni/alumnae of Indiana University or the alumni and alumnae of Indiana University [...] coeducational institutions usually use alumni for graduates of both sexes. But those who object to masculine
forms in such cases may prefer the phrase alumni and alumnae or the form alumnae/i, which is the choice of many women's colleges that have begun to admit men.[8]
The term is sometimes shortened to alum which stands for "an alumna or alumnus."[9]
Alumni reunions are popular events at many institutions. They are
usually organized by alumni associations and are often social occasions for
fundraising.
Recently, the definition of "alumni" has expanded to include people who have departed from any kind of organization or
program. As such, one can potentially be a "corporate alum" of XYZ Company, or an alum of a military branch, non-profit organization, fraternities and sororities, or training process.
Related terms
At most public schools, New Zealand schools, and a few universities in the
UK, and to a lesser extent in Australia (who use the term "former student") and
Canada, the phrases old boy and old girl
are traditionally used for former school pupils, and old member (or "alumni" in New Zealand) for former university
students. At the Royal Military College of Canada, the phrases
former cadet and member of the old brigade are traditionally used as are college numbers. Another example is the
term old corps, in reference to alumni from the Virginia Military
Institute.
Some will use a specific term clearly linked to the school name, such as Old Etonian or Old Silcoatian (alumni
of Eton College and Silcoates School), or a more
obscure one, such as Old Citizen and Old Gregorian for those of the City of
London School and Downside School.
In Scotland, the term former pupil (FP) is also used, especially when referring to sports teams of a school. Some U.S.
schools, most notably Texas A&M University, also prefer former
student.
Footnotes
See also
External Links
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