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Is it acceptable to use alum for alumnus or alumna?
The words that we have used to refer to people who have attended or graduated from a school, college, or university have changed a bit over the past several centuries. Traditionally, the word alumnus has been used to refer to a single male, whereas alumna has been used for a single woman. Initially the plural forms were alumni to refer to multiple men (or multiple men and women) and alumnae for multiple women. A little over a hundred years ago the shortened form of alum began to be used to describe a graduate or past attendee of either gender. Although many people feel that alum is informal, it is in increasing use, and we appear to be moving toward a greater acceptance of the word. The plural of alum is alums.
Examples of alum in a Sentence
Carrie Ann Inaba, Peoplemag, 22 Apr. 2024
Pyramid Sculpture Park Home in Hamilton In 1987, Miami University alum Harry T. Wilks purchased land to build his Pyramid House before expanding to what is now Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum, a three-hundred-acre nonprofit park featuring over 70 outdoor sculptures.
—Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 21 Apr. 2024
Continue reading here… ‘TRUE BEAUTY’ - 'American Idol' alum, gospel singer Mandisa dead at 47.
—Fox News Staff, Fox News, 20 Apr. 2024
In a statement to Billboard, a representative for Grammy-winning Christian contemporary music artist and American Idol alum Mandisa confirmed that the singer passed at age 47 in her home.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
But Grant Hill, USA Basketball’s managing director, wants to make one thing clear: The Clippers forward and San Diego State alum did not dramatically get the final spot on the roster heading to France this summer.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2024
When the Giants signed his fellow Titan alum, Davis became expendable.
—Brian Robin, Orange County Register, 18 Apr. 2024
Bethenny Frankel's miscarriage was a blessing in disguise, according to the reality TV alum.
—Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
On Wednesday, April 10, the Gossip Girl alum, 36, gushed about Ryan Reynolds’, 47, while sharing the trailer for his upcoming movie IF on her Instagram Stories.
—Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Alum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alum. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
alum
noun
called also potassium alum
called also ammonia alum, ammonium alum
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