former acquaintance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "former acquaintance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to someone you used to know but are no longer in contact with. Example: "I ran into a former acquaintance at the coffee shop, and we reminisced about old times."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

Don't talk to your ex-stepbrother, and he becomes just another former acquaintance.

The New York Times

The former acquaintance, Richard Esquinas, is the author of "Michael and Me, Our Gambling Addiction..

The New York Times - Sports

That spring, in an altercation with a former acquaintance, Bailey was stabbed three times with a small pocketknife.

The New York Times - Sports

A former acquaintance told them, of Bob, "He was not a cardboard activist, he had real depth to him".

The New Yorker

Paul van de Grampel, a former acquaintance, told the Guardian: "Willem-Alexander has really grown and matured.

The Guardian

Take, for example, Leroy, a 72-year-old from North Dakota who hired PeopleSearch to find a former acquaintance, Sharon of Missouri.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

And she has been hurt by former acquaintances who exploited their friendship.

The New York Times

To watch multiple "Nutcracker" productions is always a journey of discovery, finding new dancers and refreshing former acquaintances.

The New York Times - Arts

The newspaper said that it had found former acquaintances who identified the man in the picture as Mr. Gunningham.

The New York Times - Arts

Some of the interview subjects are former acquaintances or colleagues of Moore, who offer up negative anecdotes about the man.

The Guardian - Film

Former acquaintances now in the West say that Mr. Alia was friendly, courteous, soft-spoken and, unlike Mr. Hoxha, at ease with Westerners.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "former acquaintance" when you want to indicate that you knew someone in the past, but you are no longer in close contact or may not even recognize them anymore. It's useful for distancing yourself politely.

Common error

Be careful using "former friend" when you mean "former acquaintance". "Former friend" implies a deeper relationship that ended, while "former acquaintance" suggests a more casual past connection.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "former acquaintance" functions as a noun phrase, where "former" modifies the noun "acquaintance". It's used to identify a person someone once knew but is no longer in contact with. Ludwig AI confirms that the expression is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "former acquaintance" is a grammatically sound and commonly used term to describe someone you once knew but are no longer close to. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a correct and usable expression. It typically functions as a noun phrase and is primarily used in news, media, and similar contexts. While the term doesn't carry heavy formality, it maintains a neutral tone suitable for various situations. If "former acquaintance" doesn't quite fit, consider alternatives such as "past associate", "previous colleague", or "casual contact" depending on the specific nature of the relationship you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

earlier contact

A neutral way to refer to someone you had contact with in the past.

one-time acquaintance

Highlights the brevity or limited nature of the relationship.

lapsed contact

Focuses on the lack of current communication rather than the nature of the past relationship.

casual acquaintance from the past

Emphasizes the casual nature of the relationship and its distance in time.

past associate

Emphasizes a professional or business connection that no longer exists.

onetime associate

Similar to "past associate" but can apply to a broader range of connections.

previous colleague

Specifically refers to someone with whom you worked in the past.

bygone contact

Implies the relationship is completely in the past and possibly forgotten.

erstwhile friend

Indicates a friendship that has ended, often with a hint of regret.

old companion

Suggests a more personal connection that has since faded.

FAQs

How to use "former acquaintance" in a sentence?

"Former acquaintance" is used to describe someone you knew in the past but are no longer in contact with. For example: "I ran into a "former acquaintance" at the grocery store."

What's the difference between "former acquaintance" and "old friend"?

A "former acquaintance" suggests a casual past relationship, while an "old friend" implies a deeper, more meaningful connection, even if you're not currently in touch.

What can I say instead of "former acquaintance"?

You can use alternatives like "past associate", "previous colleague", or "casual contact depending on the context.

Is "previous acquaintance" the same as "former acquaintance"?

Yes, "previous acquaintance" and "former acquaintance" are largely interchangeable and have the same meaning. Both indicate someone you knew in the past but no longer have a close relationship with.