Is the use of the phrase 'pass out' to mean 'graduate' correct? If correct, is it common?

The use of the phrase "pass out" to mean "graduate" is context-dependent and varies between different regions and types of education.

In General Usage

In American English, "pass out" primarily means "to lose consciousness" or "to faint," and it is not commonly used to mean "graduate"15.

British English and Specific Contexts

In British English, "pass out" can have a different meaning, particularly in specific contexts:

• It can mean "to graduate" from military school or police training, often marked by a "passing out" parade235.
• However, in the general context of university or college education, "graduate" is the more commonly used and understood term, even in British English25.

Regional Variations

In some regions, such as India, "pass out" might be used to mean "graduate" from college or university, but this usage can be confusing to speakers from other countries and is not universally accepted2.

In summary, while "pass out" can mean "graduate" in certain specific contexts, especially in British English related to military or police training, it is not a common or universally accepted term for graduation in general educational contexts. The safer and more widely understood term is "graduate."