Did you know?
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
Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2025
Bachelor Nation alum Katie Thurston has breast cancer.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025
In front of legendary Drag Race alum Alyssa Edwards, in a guest appearance as a judge, the contestants competed as their interpretations of iconic personalities like Eddie Murphy and Trisha Paytas, as well as creating their own original characters like Miss Bigfeet and Baby Cupid.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025
It’s owned by Top Chef alum Nelson German, who is opening a new restaurant with Draymond Green of the Warriors this spring.
—Tabnie Dozier, Essence, 14 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for alum 
Articles Related to alum
Dictionary Entries Near alum
Cite this Entry
“Alum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alum. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
alum
noun
called also potassium alum
called also ammonia alum, ammonium alum
Share