erstwhile
Americanadjective
adverb
adjective
adverb
Etymology
Origin of erstwhile
Explanation
If your dad used to play in a punk band, but is now a computer programmer, you could call him an erstwhile punk rocker. Erstwhile means "former." Erstwhile comes from Old English and is a formal way to say "former." You can go to your class reunion 20 years after you graduate high school and see your erstwhile friends. That means that they had been your friends, but you lost touch with them, so that they weren't friends of yours anymore. Erstwhile can also be used as an adverb, meaning “formerly or once” — “Erstwhile, I was a member of the high school debate team.”
Vocabulary lists containing erstwhile
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Ancient Wisdom: Synonyms for "Old"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mark Cuban, the billionaire former “Shark Tank” regular and erstwhile critic of President Donald Trump, dumped nearly all his bitcoin holdings late last month, saying the original digital currency has “lost the plot.”
From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026
And Waller’s Friday lecture confirms that another erstwhile supporter of further cuts has turned skeptical of lowering rates.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
The erstwhile interim U.S. attorney, then, is in a pickle of his own making.
From Slate • Mar. 11, 2026
Now one year later, the erstwhile best country music album category no longer exists.
From BBC • Jan. 30, 2026
As for the West Computers’ erstwhile leader, Dorothy Vaughan found herself in a new seat in another brand-new building.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
