alumnae

The alumnae gathered for a reunion at their old university.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Former female students: "alumnae" is the plural form of "alumna," referring to a group of women who have graduated from or attended a particular school, college, or university.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The university invited all its alumnae to the homecoming celebration. (All former female students were invited.)
  • Many alumnae donated generously to the scholarship fund. (A group of former female graduates contributed money.)

Advanced Usage

• "alumnae association": an organization for former female students of an institution.

  • She joined the alumnae association to stay connected with her college. (She became a member of the group of former female students.)

• "alumnae network": a system of connections among former female students for professional or social purposes.

  • The alumnae network helped her find a job after graduation. (The connections among former female students assisted her.)

Variants and Related Words

• Alumna (n, singular): a female graduate or former student of a specific school.

  • She is an alumna of Harvard University. (She is a former female student there.)

• Alumni (n, plural): the general plural form for a group of former students, which can be mixed-gender or male-only; often used when the gender is unspecified or includes men.

  • The alumni of the school meet every year. (All former students, both men and women, gather.)

• Alumnus (n, singular, male): a male graduate or former student.

  • He is an alumnus of Yale. (He is a former male student.)

Synonyms

• Graduates: people who have completed a course of study and received a degree.
• Former students: individuals who previously attended an institution.

Related Idioms

• "alma mater": the school, college, or university that one formerly attended.
  • She feels great loyalty to her alma mater. (She is devoted to the school she graduated from.)