What does graduate mean?
Graduate describes either a person who has completed a course of study or the act of completing that course and earning a qualification. Its central noun sense is a degree-holder, while its verb sense is commonly used with 'from': 'She graduated from Oxford.' It can also be extended metaphorically to describe moving from one stage to another, such as progressing from beginner to expert. In American English, 'graduate' can sound more informal than 'alumnus' or 'alumna' in a formal professional setting, but it remains standard in everyday and academic language. The related adjective is especially common in 'graduate student' and 'graduate school.' The word has an interesting history: it comes through Medieval Latin from gradus, the Latin word for a step or degree, reflecting the idea of advancing by stages. Its meaning therefore combines the practical idea of finishing a qualification with the older metaphor of taking a step toward a new rank or level.
A person who has completed a course of study and received a degree or other qualification.
"The university welcomes graduates from more than 70 countries."
In formal contexts, 'alumnus' or 'alumna' may be preferred; the plural 'graduates' is standard.
To complete a course of study and receive a degree or qualification, or to move from one level or stage to a more advanced one.
"She graduated with honors in economics."
The usual preposition is 'from' when referring to a school or university: 'He graduated from medical school.'
Having completed a degree program or belonging to a category of people who are pursuing or have completed advanced study.
"The library provides special research privileges for graduate students."
This use is established in phrases such as 'graduate student,' 'graduate school,' and 'graduate program.'
The regular plural of the noun is 'graduates,' used for people who have completed a course of study.
"The ceremony recognizes graduates from the university's six departments."
Graduate comes from Latin gradus, meaning 'step'—the same root behind progress, gradual, and aggressive.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does graduate come from?
The English word comes from Medieval Latin graduare, meaning 'to take a degree,' ultimately derived from Latin gradus, 'step, degree, rank,' which is related to gradi, 'to step.' In its early academic use, graduation referred to taking a degree or advancing to a new rank, and the modern sense developed from that idea of completing a course of study. The root is also reflected in cognates such as gradual, degree, progress, and aggressive.
Related word forms
How graduate is actually used
The most common pattern is 'graduate from' a school or university, although 'graduate in' a subject is also common in British English. 'Graduate' is a formal noun; 'alumnus' and 'alumna' are often preferred in formal contexts. As an adjective, it usually appears before a noun, especially in 'graduate student' and 'graduate school'.
Easily confused with graduate
A graduate has completed a degree program, whereas an undergraduate is still studying for a bachelor's degree.
Graduate is the base form used as a noun or verb, while graduated is its past-tense and past-participle form, as in 'She graduated last year.'