exes

IPA/eks/

KK[ˈɛksɪz]IPA/eks/

exessingular
exesesplural

1.nounA2

Definition

A past romantic partner — someone's former husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend. Also used for a person who once held a particular job or title.

Example

Mei invited her ex to the wedding, and every guest in the room felt awkward.

possessive + ex for former romantic partner

Coach Rivera is an ex of the national team and still watches every match from the stands.

Common collocations

my ex
her ex
his ex
stay friends with an ex
bump into an ex
text an ex

Synonyms

former partner
more formal; used in legal or careful speech
ex-partner
neutral; commonly used when the type of relationship is unclear
old flame
informal and nostalgic; suggests the relationship is long over

Usage Note

Often used with a possessive word (my ex, her ex). The plural 'exes' refers to multiple former partners.

Common Mistakes

My ex-wife is my ex.' (confusing the noun 'ex' with the prefix 'ex-').

My ex-wife and I are divorced. She is my ex.

'Ex' as a noun replaces the full compound; 'ex-' is a prefix attached to another word.

1.prepositionC1

Definition

A formal term meaning 'out of' or 'from,' used in business to say where goods were produced, stored, or shipped from before the buyer takes them.

Example

The shipment of bicycles was sent ex warehouse in Rotterdam last Tuesday morning.

'ex warehouse' — goods are priced from the point they leave the warehouse

The contract stated that the machinery would be delivered ex factory in Nagoya.

Common collocations

ex warehouse
ex works
ex factory
ex store

Synonyms

from
the everyday word; used in all contexts, not just commercial
out of
slightly more formal than 'from'; still common in general English

Grammar Patterns

ex + place noun

Usage Note

Used in formal trade and shipping documents. The buyer pays all costs from the named place onwards. Common phrases: 'ex warehouse,' 'ex works,' 'ex factory.'

Common Mistakes

The package came ex the post office.' (using 'ex' in everyday speech).

The package came from the post office.

'Ex' in this sense is only used in formal business and trade contexts, never in daily conversation.

2.prepositionC1

Definition

A formal term meaning 'without' or 'not including,' used in finance and law to show that something (a right, payment, or charge) is not part of a deal.

Example

The share price was quoted ex dividend after the company made its annual announcement.

'ex dividend' — share price that does not include the next dividend payment

The laptop was sold ex VAT, so Ines had to add the tax to the final payment.

Common collocations

ex dividend
ex rights
ex VAT
ex delivery

Synonyms

without
the everyday equivalent; used in all ordinary situations
excluding
common in pricing and offers; less formal than 'ex'

Antonyms

cum
Latin for 'with'; used in finance as the opposite of 'ex' (e.g. cum dividend)

Grammar Patterns

ex + noun (right, value, charge)

Usage Note

Used in financial markets and legal contracts. Common phrases: 'ex dividend,' 'ex rights,' 'ex VAT.' The thing after 'ex' is what the buyer does not get.

Common Mistakes

The meal was ex dessert.' (using 'ex' as 'without' in everyday situations).

The meal did not include dessert.

This use of 'ex' is strictly for financial and legal documents, never for daily speech.

Word family

ex-
prefixB1
ex-wife
nounB1
ex-husband
nounB1
ex-boyfriend
nounB1
ex-girlfriend
nounB1
ex-president
nounB2
former
adjectiveB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

The noun 'ex' is the most casual and widely used term for a former romantic partner. Unlike 'former,' which is an adjective needing a noun ('my former wife'), 'ex' stands alone as a noun. 'Ex-partner' is slightly more formal and is often chosen when the relationship type is unclear or when the speaker wants to avoid specifying marriage versus dating. 'Old flame' carries a warm, nostalgic tone — it hints that the relationship ended long ago and the speaker looks back on it without bitterness. Compare: 'I saw my ex at the station' (neutral, everyday) versus 'I ran into an old flame from university' (wistful, distant past).

former ↗ex-partnerold flame ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

my ex
her ex
his ex
stay friends with an ex
bump into an ex
text an ex

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The noun 'ex' (plural 'exes') comes from the prefix 'ex-', which itself traces back to Latin 'ex' meaning 'out of' or 'from.' By the early 1800s, English speakers began dropping the second part of compounds like 'ex-wife' and 'ex-husband,' using 'ex' alone as a noun to mean a former spouse or partner. The preposition 'ex' (as in 'ex warehouse') was borrowed directly from Latin and has been used in English legal and commercial writing since the 1600s. The abbreviation 'ex.' for 'example' developed from the first two letters of the word.

First known use

1827

1827, in the meaning defined above Noun (2)

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exes

exes — noun

1. A past romantic partner — someone's former husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfrie

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

exes — abbreviation

1. A short written form of the word 'example,' placed before one or more items to s

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. A short form of 'Exodus,' the second book of the Bible, which tells the story of

Usage Note

exes — preposition

1. A formal term meaning 'out of' or 'from,' used in business to say where goods we

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. A formal term meaning 'without' or 'not including,' used in finance and law to s

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Phrases

Etymology

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