former officeholder

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "former officeholder" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to someone who previously held a specific position or office, often in a political context. Example: "The former officeholder addressed the crowd, sharing insights from their time in service."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

They were "cut off, religiously and politically," the former officeholder said.

The New Yorker

The Maryland Court of Appeals in Annapolis, by refusing to hear Agnew's latest appeal, affirmed a lower court's ruling that the Republican former officeholder must repay the state $147,500 he was judged in a civil action to have taken in kickbacks from highway contractors plus $101,235 in interest, a total of $248,735.

The Washington Post

He seems to be leading on the endorsement front, with the backing of former officeholder Becerra, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif ., the D-Calif .c Parthe PlanneDemocratic Party, Planned Parenthoodjor unions.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Even for former officeholders, this kind of purity test can be a problem.

The New York Times

And none of this applies to former officeholders who won't be running again.

The Washington Post

This is terrible news for Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Scott Walker, Ted Cruz and the other current or former officeholders in the GOP race.

The Washington Post

Mr. Carey, along with several other Catholic officeholders and former officeholders, had been telephoned for comment Monday but he did not return the call until yesterday.

The New York Times

Joining Mr. Bush on Monday were Democratic elders and former officeholders, people like Mr. Powell, who served in the more cordial Washington of decades past.

The New York Times

The editors — who will remain anonymous, and will include lawyers, lobbyists and former officeholders — are the "secret sauce," Mr. Sommer said.

The New York Times - Tech

As late as 1960, all hundred and thirty-five police chiefs in Italy, and all but two of the country's sixty-four prefectsal prefects, were former officeholders under Fascism.

The New Yorker

A host of current and former officeholders who are Catholics did not return messages yesterday seeking their comments on the issue.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "former officeholder" when you want to emphasize their past position, particularly in discussions about their influence or legacy.

Common error

Don't assume your audience knows which office the person held. Always provide context to avoid confusion about the "former officeholder's" background.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "former officeholder" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject or object within a sentence. It identifies an individual based on their past role in a governmental or organizational structure. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "former officeholder" correctly identifies someone who previously held a position in public office. Though relatively rare, with only three exact examples in Ludwig, this term is generally found within news and media contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. When using "former officeholder", be specific about the office they held to provide clear context. Alternative phrases, such as "ex-official" or "previous officeholder", can provide similar meaning while varying the wording.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Ex-official

Replaces "former officeholder" with a shorter, more concise term emphasizing the past status.

Previous officeholder

Uses "previous" instead of "former" offering a direct synonym with minimal semantic difference.

Past officeholder

Similar to 'previous officeholder', this alternative uses 'past' to denote a prior position.

One-time officeholder

Emphasizes that the individual held the office only once.

Former official

Simplifies the phrase by omitting "officeholder" but retaining the core meaning.

Retired official

Suggests that the person has left the office and is no longer active in that capacity, implying a permanent departure.

One-time public servant

Highlights the service aspect of the role, broadening the scope beyond just holding office.

Outgone official

Uses 'outgone' to emphasize the act of leaving office.

Predecessor

Focuses on the person who held the office before the current holder.

Past incumbent

Uses 'incumbent' to specify someone who previously held the office, emphasizing their time in power.

FAQs

What does the term "former officeholder" mean?

A "former officeholder" is someone who previously held a public office, such as a senator, governor, or mayor. The term indicates that they are no longer serving in that position.

How do I use "former officeholder" in a sentence?

You can use "former officeholder" to refer to someone's previous role, for example: "The "former officeholder" shared their insights on current policy."

What are some alternatives to "former officeholder"?

Some alternatives include "ex-official", "previous officeholder", or "retired official" depending on the context.

Is "former officeholder" the same as "incumbent"?

No, a "former officeholder" is someone who used to hold office, while an "incumbent" is the person currently holding the office.