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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Word Warriors: Four Years of Words Worth Reviving
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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.
The party's sudden fall from grace in the eyes of the population, even of some erstwhile supporters, has been spectacular.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026
Compare that to the strapline you’d have to write for the erstwhile VW ID.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026
The erstwhile interim U.S. attorney, then, is in a pickle of his own making.
From Slate • Mar. 11, 2026
A fifth consecutive league victory moved Niko Kovac's side to 48 points, within a victory of erstwhile runaway leaders Bayern, who can restore their six-point cushion with victory at in-form Hoffenheim on Sunday.
From Barron's • Feb. 7, 2026
After Knighthood changed hands, a rumor began circulating that someone from the horse’s erstwhile rooting section had placed a curse on him.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
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.
