noun
Very common
ex
ehks
Ex (noun) means a former romantic partner, such as an ex-girlfriend, ex-boyfriend, or ex-spouse. Example: “He still sends his ex a card every year on her birthday.”
noun
1
A former romantic partner, such as an ex-girlfriend, ex-boyfriend, or ex-spouse.
"He still sends his ex a card every year on her birthday."
"She ran into her ex at the supermarket."
"He's still on good terms with all his exes."
verb
1
To cross something out or delete it.
"She exed the wrong name from the list with a red pen."
"I accidentally exed out the window before saving my work."
"He exed out the mistake and rewrote the line."
adjective
1
Used before a noun to mean former or previous.
"The ex-captain still comes to watch the team train on Saturdays."
"My ex-neighbour sent me a postcard from her new home by the sea."
"My ex-boss recommended me for the job."
How to use ex
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishShort for "former" — most commonly used for a past romantic partner.
Common pairings
my ex
ex-wife
ex-husband
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Word forms
- Plural
- exes
- Third person singular
- exes
- Past tense
- exed
- Comparative
- more ex
- Superlative
- most ex
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He still sends his _____ a card every year on her birthday.
Etymology
From the Latin prefix ex-, meaning "out of" or "former."
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “ex” mean?
The word “ex” means a former romantic partner, such as an ex-girlfriend, ex-boyfriend, or ex-spouse. In plain terms, short for "former" — most commonly used for a past romantic partner.
How do you pronounce “ex”?
“Ex” is pronounced ehks (/ɛks/ in IPA).
How do you use “ex” in a sentence?
Here is “ex” used in a sentence: “She ran into her ex at the supermarket.”
What part of speech is “ex”?
Depending on how it is used, “ex” can be a noun, a verb and an adjective.
Where does the word “ex” come from?
The word “ex” comes from Latin. From the Latin prefix ex-, meaning "out of" or "former.".
Is “ex” a common word?
“Ex” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “ex” have?
“Ex” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a former romantic partner, such as an ex-girlfriend, ex-boyfriend, or ex-spouse.
What does "ex" mean?
"Ex" is an informal noun for a former romantic partner, such as an ex-girlfriend, ex-boyfriend, ex-husband, or ex-wife. It is simply short for those longer terms. The prefix "ex-" means "former," so your "ex" is someone you used to be in a relationship with.
Is "ex" formal or informal?
Used alone as a noun, "ex" is informal and conversational. In formal writing you would more likely say "former partner," "ex-spouse," or "former husband" or "wife." In everyday speech, though, "my ex" is completely natural and instantly understood.
What is the difference between "ex" and "former partner"?
They mean the same thing but differ in tone. "Ex" is casual shorthand used in conversation, while "former partner" is more formal and neutral. You might tell a friend about "my ex" but write "her former partner" in a report or official document.
What is an example of "ex" in a sentence?
"I ran into my ex at the coffee shop" means a former romantic partner. As a standalone noun, "ex" almost always refers to a past girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, or wife, and the exact relationship is usually clear from context.
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