grad

Finished school, informally

Grad is informal for graduate—someone who has completed a degree: a college grad, a recent grad.

It also shortens gradient in technical contexts, particularly in mathematics and physics.

As an adjective, grad modifies academic contexts: grad school, grad student.

student

alumnus

Male former student

alumniFormer school members
doctoralOf advanced academic study
postdocPost-degree research position

candidate · master's · PhD · valedictorian · salutatorian · cohort · classmate · commencement · diploma · cap and gown

measurement

degree

Unit of measurement

scaleMeasure of relative size
incrementUnit of increase
calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy

marking · division · unit · interval · ruler · protractor · thermometer · slope · incline · steepness

school

university

Higher education institution

programPlanned sequence of actions
thesisAcademic argument requiring defense
dissertationExtended academic treatise

research · seminar · advisor · committee · defense · comprehensive exams · qualifying exams · coursework · stipend · fellowship

Categories

fortificationsfort, fortress, fortresses, citadel, citadels
Latin Rootsact, cede, cent, cred, duct
administrative divisionsprovince, district, county, region, state
campusdorm, dormitory, dormitories, dorms, quad

Opposites

academic status

First-year student

underclassman · first-year · frosh · dropout · freshie

educational level

Degree-seeking university student

undergraduate · college student · pre-med · pre-law · underclassman

Phrases

first gradeOpening elementary year
fifth gradeSchool year for ten-year-olds
second gradeElementary school's third year
fourth gradeElementary school's middle year
sixth gradeAcademic year for eleven-year-olds
graduation dayAcademic completion ceremony

Family

grade, upgrade, gradual, graduate, grading, grades, graded, degrade, downgrade

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G