ex-president
C1Formal, neutral
Definition
Meaning
A person who formerly held the office of president.
A title or reference for someone after they have ceased to hold the presidency of a country, organisation, or other body.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The prefix 'ex-' is applied directly to the title 'president'. It functions as a noun or a modifier (attributive noun). It carries a neutral to respectful tone, depending on context. It implies a direct succession from the active role.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage; term is equally applicable to former leaders of states, companies, or clubs in both varieties.
Connotations
Generally neutral, though context (the individual's reputation, the term 'former' vs. 'ex-') can add positive or negative nuance.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to prominent media coverage of former US presidents.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Ex-president] + of + [organisation/country][Ex-president] + [verb]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “An ex-president is a president without a portfolio.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a past leader of a corporation or board.
Academic
Used in political science, history, or leadership studies to denote subjects of research.
Everyday
Common in news reports, biographies, and general discussion about past leaders.
Technical
Used in legal or constitutional contexts discussing privileges, pensions, or status of former heads of state.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The ex-president ambassador gave a speech.
- We visited the ex-president's library.
American English
- The ex-president envoy met with officials.
- He runs an ex-president's charitable foundation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This man is an ex-president.
- The ex-president wrote a book about his life.
- Several ex-presidents attended the funeral of the former prime minister.
- Despite being an ex-president, he continues to wield considerable influence in international diplomacy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
EXit + PRESIDENT = EX-PRESIDENT: He exited the office of president.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FORMER TITLE IS A SHADOW/LEGACY OF THE OFFICE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation as '*экс-президент*' is a direct calque and is perfectly correct. The trap is overusing 'ex-' for all former roles where Russian uses 'экс-', but in English, 'former' is often preferred in formal writing.
Common Mistakes
- Using a hyphen where it's not a compound modifier (e.g., 'He is an ex president' should be 'He is an ex-president' or 'He is a former president').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of the prefix 'ex-' in 'ex-president'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral to formal. In very formal writing, 'former president' is sometimes preferred.
Not inherently. Connotation depends entirely on context and the individual's reputation.
It's common for high-profile roles (ex-captain, ex-manager) but can sound informal or jocular for ordinary jobs (e.g., 'ex-waiter'). 'Former' is safer.
Yes, when used as a noun or compound modifier referring to the person: 'the ex-president'. If 'ex' modifies a longer phrase, style guides vary (e.g., 'ex–prime minister').