former classmates

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "former classmates" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to individuals who were classmates in the past but are no longer in the same educational setting. Example: "At the reunion, I was excited to catch up with my former classmates and share our life experiences."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Perhaps those girls were her former classmates.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Several former classmates said they could remember nothing about him.

The New York Times

Getting together with former classmates might make it worse.

The New York Times

Unlike former classmates, they are seized by no ambitious plan.

The New York Times

Former classmates here described him as nervous, with a flat affect.

The New York Times

And if a teacher challenged his views, former classmates said, he was quick to push back.

The New York Times

Most of her former classmates were earning about forty dollars a month as teachers in Sichuan.

The New Yorker

This time, he met up with two of his former classmates.

The New Yorker

The former classmates immediately enter into an ordinary how-are-you-doing dialogue.

The New York Times

While several former classmates recalled Mr. Katsiroubas, Mr. Medlej seemed less familiar.

The New York Times

Mr. Lanza, who former classmates said had had a developmental disorder, lived with his mother.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "former classmates", consider specifying the context or timeframe of the shared educational experience for clarity. For example, "former high school classmates" or "former college classmates".

Common error

Avoid assuming that your audience knows exactly which class or school you're referring to when you mention "former classmates". Provide enough context so that readers can easily understand the connection.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "former classmates" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a group of people who were classmates in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "former classmates" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term to describe individuals who once shared a classroom or school setting with you. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. It commonly appears in news articles, personal stories, and general discussions. While alternatives like "ex-classmates" exist, "former classmates" is a clear and widely understood way to convey this relationship. When using this phrase, providing context about the school or class can enhance clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ex-classmates

Shortened and more informal version. It has a slightly more casual tone.

past classmates

Emphasizes the temporal aspect of the relationship being in the past.

old schoolmates

Highlights a sense of nostalgia and shared history.

previous classmates

A more formal and straightforward way of indicating past classmates.

alumni from my class

Connects individuals through their shared alumni status.

classmates from years ago

Emphasizes the distant past nature of the relationship.

bygone classmates

More archaic, literary and rarely used way to mean "former classmates".

classmates from a previous school

Specifically indicates that the individuals were classmates at a different school.

once fellow students

Highlights the shared experience of being students together at one time.

people I used to go to school with

An informal and descriptive way to refer to "former classmates".

FAQs

How can I use "former classmates" in a sentence?

You can use "former classmates" to refer to people who attended the same school or class as you in the past. For example, "I ran into some "former classmates" at the reunion."

What are some alternatives to saying "former classmates"?

Some alternatives include "ex-classmates", "past classmates", or "old schoolmates", depending on the context and desired tone.

Is it correct to say "previous classmates" instead of "former classmates"?

"Previous classmates" is a grammatically correct and understandable alternative to "former classmates", though "former" is slightly more common.

What's the difference between "classmates" and "former classmates"?

"Classmates" refers to people who are currently in the same class or school as you, while "former classmates" refers to people who were in the same class or school as you in the past but are no longer in that setting.