Definition

1. Noun:
   • The group of students who complete their studies and receive their degrees or diplomas at the same ceremony in a given academic year: This term refers specifically to the collective body of students from a school, college, or university who are graduating concurrently.

Usage

• The term "graduating class" is used to refer to the entire cohort of students who are finishing their program in the same year. It emphasizes their shared experience and the ceremony (graduation) they participate in together.
• It is commonly used in educational contexts, such as in school announcements, alumni relations, and event planning.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The graduating class of 2024 will hold its commencement ceremony in May.
  • She was the valedictorian for her high school's graduating class.
  • Donations from the graduating class funded a new scholarship.

Advanced Usage

• "The entire graduating class": Emphasizes the inclusion of every student in that year's cohort.
  • The entire graduating class was invited to the dean's reception.
• "[Year] graduating class": A standard format to specify the year of graduation.
  • He keeps in touch with many friends from his 1995 graduating class.

Variants and Related Words

• Graduating senior (n): An individual student in their final year who is part of the graduating class.
  • Every graduating senior received a yearbook.
• Alumni class (n): A group of graduates, often used after graduation to refer to the same group as an alumni body.
  • The alumni class of 2010 is planning a reunion.
• Commencement (n): The ceremony at which degrees are conferred; the event for the graduating class.
  • The graduating class processed into the stadium for commencement.

Synonyms

• Graduation cohort: A more formal or demographic term for the same group.
• Senior class: Often used in high school contexts to refer to the final-year students, most of whom constitute the graduating class. (Note: "Senior class" can include students not graduating on time.)

Related Phrases

• To address the graduating class: To give a speech to the group of graduates.
  • The mayor will address the graduating class at the ceremony.
• Size of the graduating class: Refers to the number of students graduating.
  • The size of the graduating class has grown significantly over the past decade.

Noun

1. the body of students who graduate together this year