ex

1 of 8

noun (1)

ˈeks How to pronounce ex (audio)
Synonyms of exnext
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
This year’s offerings include Hot Frosty, a movie about a snowman who comes to life to seduce a widow, and Lindsay Lohan’s latest, Our Little Secret, about exes who unintentionally converge at Christmas and must grapple, profoundly, with their unfinished business. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024 The exes settle in for an awkward ride back to civilization. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 5 Nov. 2024 The weighty topic: Has anything changed between the exes, now that Jessica is back in D.C.? —Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 4 Nov. 2024 The exes agreed to the arrangement in a September legal filing obtained by PEOPLE, but Christina listed the house for sale for $4.5 million shortly thereafter. —Mackenzie Schmidt, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ex 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of ex was circa 1755

Phrases Containing ex

Dictionary Entries Near ex

Ewing's sarcoma

ex

ex-

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Ex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ex. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on ex

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ex

Britannica English: Translation of ex for Arabic Speakers

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