former husband

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "former husband" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a man who was previously married to someone but is no longer in that marital relationship. Example: "After their divorce, she often referred to him as her former husband when discussing their past."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Jeanne's former husband (J.

The New York Times

Beloved former husband of Lucia.

The New York Times

Her dead former husband haunted her.

The New Yorker

Former husband of Noel.

The New York Times

Former husband of Sally Dolan.

The New York Times

Former husband of Ana Luisa.

The New York Times

Former husband of Ethel Gluck.

The New York Times

Former husband of Andrea Theodore Kove.

The New York Times

The car belonged to Julie's former husband.

The Guardian

Devoted former husband of Nina Freid.

The New York Times

Her former husband, Angel Acosta, still lives in New York.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "former husband" when you need a clear and formal way to refer to someone's ex-spouse. It's particularly useful in legal or journalistic contexts where precision is important.

Common error

Avoid using "former husband" when the person has died. "Late husband" indicates that the person is deceased, while "former husband" simply means the marriage ended.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "former husband" functions as a noun phrase, specifically acting as a compound noun. It identifies a man who was previously married to someone. As Ludwig AI says, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "former husband" is a grammatically sound and commonly used term to denote a man who was previously married. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While "ex-husband" is a more concise synonym, "former husband" is generally perceived as more formal and precise, making it suitable for legal, journalistic, or any context where clarity is paramount. It's important to differentiate it from "late husband", which indicates the death of the spouse. The phrase appears frequently in news and media, as well as academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ex-husband

A more concise and commonly used alternative.

previous husband

Similar in meaning, emphasizing the temporal aspect of the relationship.

divorced husband

Specifies the reason for the end of the marriage.

separated husband

Indicates a legal separation, not necessarily a divorce.

late husband

Used when the former husband is deceased.

earlier husband

Emphasizes the chronological order of multiple husbands.

one-time husband

Highlights the past nature of the marital relationship.

former spouse

A gender-neutral term to describe a divorced partner.

erstwhile husband

A more formal and less common synonym.

long-ago husband

Highlights the distance in time since the marriage.

FAQs

What's the difference between "former husband" and "ex-husband"?

Both "former husband" and "ex-husband" refer to a man who was previously married to someone. "Ex-husband" is more common and informal, while "former husband" is considered more formal.

When should I use "late husband" instead of "former husband"?

Use "late husband" when referring to a husband who has died. "Former husband" simply means the marriage ended, regardless of whether the person is still alive.

Is "former spouse" a good alternative to "former husband"?

Former spouse is a gender-neutral term that can be used instead of "former husband" to refer to someone's ex-partner, regardless of gender. It's suitable in contexts where gender neutrality is preferred.

Can I use "previous husband" instead of "former husband"?

Previous husband is very similar in meaning to "former husband" and can be used interchangeably in most cases. It emphasizes the temporal aspect of the relationship.