ex

1 of 8

noun (1)

ˈeks 

: one that formerly held a specified position or place

especially : a former spouse or former partner in an intimate relationship

ex

2 of 8

noun (2)

: the letter x

ex

3 of 8

preposition

1

: out of : from: such as

a

: from a specified place or source

b

: from a specified dam

a promising calf by Eric XVI ex Heatherbell

2

: free from : without: such as

a

: without an indicated value or right

—used especially of securities

b

: free of charges precedent to removal from the specified place with purchaser to provide means of subsequent transportation

ex dock

ex

4 of 8

abbreviation (1)

1

example

2

exchange

3

executive

4

express

5

extra

Ex

5 of 8

abbreviation (2)

Exodus

ex-

6 of 8

prefix (1)

e,

 also occurs in this prefix where only  i,

 is shown below (as in "express") and  ks,

 sometimes occurs where only  is shown (as in "exact") gz

1

: out of : outside

exclave

2

: not

exstipulate

3

(ˌ)eks,

ˈeks

: former

ex-president

ex-

7 of 8

combining form

see exo-

ex-

8 of 8

prefix (2)

variants or before consonants ec-

: out of : away : off

eccentric

ectopic

Examples of ex in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The exes reunited for a dinner with their 20-year-old daughter Lola (the pair also share daughter Sami, 21), and offered a rare glimpse into their dynamic. —Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025

Willis and Moore have remained friends in the years after their split over two decades ago, and the A-list exes have long been the model of positive coparenting despite their divorce in 2000 after tying the knot in 1987. —Jay Stahl, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025

He is survived by his significant other Emily Volman, his ex-wife Pat Volman and their daughters Hallie Volman and Sarina Miller, and his brother Phil Volman. —Andrew McGowan, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025

That vulnerability crystallizes in her scenes opposite French screen legend Daniel Auteuil, who plays her ex-husband, Gabriel. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

ex- entry 1

Preposition

Latin

Prefix (1)

borrowed from Latin ex- (before vowels and voiceless consonants), ē- (from *egz-, before voiced consonants), from ex, ē, preposition, "out of, from," going back to Indo-European *h₁eḱ-s or *h₁eǵh-s, whence also Old Irish a, as "out of, from," Middle Welsh ech, Greek ex, ek, Lithuanian ìš, ìž, Old Church Slavic iz (with unexplained i in Balto-Slavic); (sense 3) borrowed from Late Latin, as in exconsul "former consul," based on Latin ex in the sense "from being, having formerly held (an office)," as in ex assessōre praefectus praetōriī "advanced from the position of judge's assistant to commander of the Praetorian Guard" (Suetonius)

Prefix (2)

borrowed from Greek ex-, ek-, from ex, ek, preposition, "out of, from" — more at ex- entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1827, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1818, in the meaning defined above

Preposition

circa 1755, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ex

• deus ex machina
• ex cathedra
• ex-con
• ex-directory
• ex gratia
• ex hypothesi
• ex libris
• ex nihilo
• ex officio
• ex parte
• ex post facto
• ex-voto
• go ex-directory

Rhymes for ex

• becks
• checks
• czechs
• decks
• dex
• flecks
• flex
• hex
• lex
• necks
• pecks
• plex

Kids Definition

ex-

1 of 2 prefix

(ˌ)eks,

ˈeks

: former

ex-president

ex-

2 of 2

see exo-

Etymology

Prefix

from earlier ex- (prefix), from Latin ex- "out of, from"

Medical Definition

ex

abbreviation

1

examined

2

example

3

exercise

Legal Definition

ex-

1 of 2 prefix

: free from : without

Ex.

2 of 2 abbreviation

Exchequer

Etymology

Prefix

Latin ex from, out of