old flatmate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "old flatmate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a former roommate or housemate with whom one has shared living space in the past. Example: "I ran into my old flatmate at the coffee shop, and we reminisced about our time living together."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Film

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Formula first heard Devoto's distinctive whine when his old flatmate, the producer Martin Hannett, told him: "'Alright Dave, I've got two things here that I've recorded.

The Guardian - Music

The same claim was made in today's Guardian by the prime minister's old flatmate, the lord chancellor, Lord Falconer, who described this as "one of Tony's big regrets".

The Guardian

Townshend's old flatmate, Richard Barnes, who came up with the band's name, has provided an excellent account of this world in his book Mods! (1979).

The Guardian - Books

The conversation I'd really like to eavesdrop on in the wake of Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet reshuffle is one between Tony Blair and his old flatmate and erstwhile fellow moderniser, Lord Charlie Falconer.

The Guardian

Me and my old flatmate Laura used to get a Chocolate Indulgence cake from Tesco every week and we'd have a bit every day, heated up in the microwave.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

My two brothers were both cast, along with my old flatmate, Bob's friends Dave Hill and his partner Jane, Zoë Wanamaker, Gawn Grainger and his favourite musician, Ian Dury, and the girl who'd played Bob's daughter in Mona Lisa – the list goes on.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

And although Danny's efforts to spread the word started promisingly – first by post and then email – wasn't it worth asking his old flatmates to send something on his behalf?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Gilleard's 31-year-old flatmate was also arrested but was later released without charge.

The Guardian

At 40, she's living in a flat in the Ruislip area of London with a 22-year-old flatmate who she found through Easyroommate.co.uk.co.uk

The Guardian - Money

Half of his friends are - his one-time flatmate Jimi Hendrix, his ex-wife Krissy, the Who's Keith Moon, his old drinking partner Peter Cook.

The Guardian - Music

Prescott was said to be pleased when his old friend and former flatmate, Dennis Skinner, endorsed David Miliband last week.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a former flatmate, specify the context if relevant. For example, "my old university flatmate" provides more clarity.

Common error

Avoid using present tense when discussing an "old flatmate". Ensure your verb tenses reflect that they are no longer your flatmate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "old flatmate" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. It refers to a person who previously shared living quarters with the speaker or writer. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is a usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Lifestyle

8%

Film

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "old flatmate" is a grammatically sound and usable way to refer to a former roommate, as supported by Ludwig. While it's generally neutral in register, more formal options like "former flatmate" might be preferred in professional writing. The phrase is most commonly found in News & Media contexts, serving to identify or reference a person with whom the speaker/writer previously shared living space. To prevent confusion, it's essential to use the correct tense when referring to an "old flatmate" to reflect the past relationship.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

former roommate

Replaces "flatmate" with "roommate" and "old" with "former", emphasizing the past relationship.

previous housemate

Uses "housemate" instead of "flatmate", and "previous" to indicate the past.

past roommate

Uses "roommate" and "past" to denote the previous living arrangement.

ex-roommate

A more concise way of saying "former roommate".

bygone flatmate

Employs "bygone" to convey a sense of the past.

long-ago roommate

Adds a temporal distance to the relationship with "long-ago".

one-time flatmate

Indicates that the person was a flatmate at one point in time.

old roommate from university

Specifies the context of the flatmate relationship as originating from university days.

flatmate from years ago

Emphasizes the temporal distance of the flatmate relationship.

dormmate from college

Specifies the shared living space as a dorm and specifies that it was in college

FAQs

What's the difference between "old flatmate" and "former flatmate"?

While both phrases refer to someone you used to share a flat with, "old flatmate" can sometimes imply a continuing friendship, whereas "former flatmate" is more neutral. You could also use the term "previous flatmate".

Is it okay to use "old flatmate" in formal writing?

While "old flatmate" is generally acceptable, in formal writing, consider using "former flatmate" or "previous housemate" as they might be perceived as more professional.

What are some alternative phrases for "old flatmate"?

You can use alternatives like "ex-flatmate", "past roommate", or "previous flatmate" depending on the context.

How can I use "old flatmate" in a sentence?

You might say, "I ran into my "old flatmate" from university at the grocery store," or "My "old flatmate" is now a successful architect."