grad

IPA/ɡræd/
KK[ɡrˈæd]IPA/ɡræd/

grad — noun

  • gradsingular
  • gradsplural

1. the shortened, informal form of 'graduate', used to refer to someone that has fi

1.nounB1
Definition

the shortened, informal form of 'graduate', used to refer to someone that has finished their education at a school or university and holds a degree or diploma.

Example

Wei was the first grad in his family to earn an engineering degree.

grad in [family] to earn [degree]

The career fair was set up to help recent grads find their first professional jobs.

recent grads

Common collocations
  • fresh grad
  • recent grad
  • young grad
  • nursing grad
  • college grad
  • high school grad
  • grad from [institution]
Synonyms
  • graduate

    the standard formal term; use in official writing

  • alumnus / alumna

    specifically refers to a former student of a particular institution, often carries a sense of belonging

  • diploma holder

    more formal and legalistic; focuses on the credential rather than the person's background

Antonyms
  • undergraduate

    a student who is still studying and has not yet graduated

  • dropout

    a person who left school without completing their studies

Grammar Patterns

grad + from + [school/institution]

fresh grad / recent grad / new grad

Usage Note

Frequently appears in compounds such as 'fresh grad', 'recent grad', or 'young grad'. In formal writing (resumes, academic papers), the full word 'graduate' is preferred.

Common Mistakes

She is a grad of National Taiwan University.
She is a graduate of National Taiwan University.
In formal or written contexts, 'graduate' is the standard form; 'grad' is reserved for informal or conversational use.
He grad from college last year.
He is a grad from that college.
'Grad' is a noun, not a verb. The verb form is 'graduate': 'He graduated from college last year.'

2. a measurement unit for angles. One grad is one hundredth part of a quarter circl

2.nounC1
Definition

a measurement unit for angles. One grad is one hundredth part of a quarter circle, which means it equals about 0.9 degrees. A full circle is made up of 400 grads.

Example

The surveyor measured the corner of the field at exactly 50 grads.

measured at [number] grads

One grad equals 0.9 degrees, so a quarter turn is 100 grads.

equals 0.9 degrees; quarter turn = 100 grads

Common collocations
  • measured in grads
  • [number] grads
  • grad system
  • grad scale
Synonyms
  • gradian

    the full technical name for the same unit

  • gon

    the equivalent term commonly used in European countries

Grammar Patterns

[number] + grad(s)

measured in grads

Usage Note

Primarily used in surveying, civil engineering, and military map-reading. In most everyday situations, 'degrees' remain the standard unit for measuring angles. Also called 'gon' in some European countries.

Common Mistakes

The angle was 90 grads.' (when meaning 90 degrees)
The angle was 90 degrees.
A right angle is 100 grads, not 90. 90 degrees equals 100 grads.
100 grads make a full circle.
400 grads make a full circle.
100 grads = a right angle; a full circle contains four right angles = 400 grads.

grad — abbreviation

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe someone who has completed a course of study, but they differ in formality and scope. 'Grad' is a clipped, informal shortening of 'graduate' — common in casual conversation and informal writing ('a fresh grad'), but avoided in official documents. 'Graduate' is the standard term used across all registers, from yearbook captions to academic reports. 'Alumnus' (plural 'alumni', feminine 'alumna') specifically links the person to a particular institution and carries a sense of ongoing affiliation — you say 'a Harvard alumnus' but not 'a Harvard grad' in formal brochures. 'Diploma holder' is a legalistic or bureaucratic term that focuses on the credential rather than the person's background; it is common in government statistics and formal eligibility criteria. In everyday use, choose 'graduate' for neutral contexts, 'grad' for chats with friends, and 'alumnus' when you want to highlight institutional pride.

grad ↗graduate ↗alumnus ↗diploma holder

Common collocations

Nouns

  • grad fair
  • grad school
  • grad program
  • grad ring

Phrases

  • fresh out of grad school
  • recent grad

Prepositions

  • grad from [institution]

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

'Grad' is a clipped shortening of 'graduate', which comes from the Latin verb 'gradī' (to step, to walk) and its derivative 'gradus' (a step). The connection is that graduating is the act of 'taking a step forward' after completing one's studies. The angular measurement sense also traces back to Latin 'gradus' via the 19th-century French term 'grade', which was introduced as part of the metric system's attempt to decimalise angle measurement. The two meanings — one academic, one mathematical — thus share the same ancient root of 'step' or 'degree of progression'.