What does erstwhile mean?
Erstwhile means (formal or literary) Formerly; in the past..
Erstwhile
/ˈɜː(ɹ)st.waɪl/ · adverb
Meaning
(formal or literary) Formerly; in the past..
Definitions by Sense
- (formal or literary) Formerly; in the past.
- (literary, law or India) Former, previous.
- (proscribed) Respected, honourable.
Example Sentences
“Scarcely had Alice reached her twentieth birthday, than she gave her erstwhile fiancée^([sic]) his formal congé.[…]”
As an aftermath of the erstwhile competition between companies, 41 goods depots served the Liverpool and Birkenhead docks in 1923.
Other erstwhile stalwarts are also wavering. Southampton had two of the best full-backs in the league last season but Ryan Bertrand has been below par this season and Cédric Soares made an uncharacteristic lapse that led to Stoke’s winning goal in Southampton’s last outing.
If you're for one of my erstwhile opponents, that's O.K. Just don't work too hard.
Synonyms for erstwhile
Antonyms for erstwhile
Related Words
Usage Notes
Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.
Practice and Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a synonym for erstwhile?
Common synonyms include erewhile, former, once, previous.
What is the opposite of erstwhile?
The opposite depends on the specific sense.
How do you use erstwhile in a sentence?
“Scarcely had Alice reached her twentieth birthday, than she gave her erstwhile fiancée^([sic]) his formal congé.[…]”
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.