ehemalige

Ehemalige is a German adjective meaning former or previous, used to describe someone or something that previously held a particular position or status but no longer does so. It can describe people, offices, organizations, titles, or objects, and appears in both biographical and descriptive contexts. The form is declined like other adjectives in German: for example, der ehemalige Präsident (masculine), die ehemalige Präsidentin (feminine), das ehemalige Auto (neuter), die ehemaligen Präsidenten (plural). When placed before a noun as the attributive form, the adjective takes endings according to the gender, number, and case of the noun.

In addition to its attributive use, Ehemalige (capitalized) can function as a noun meaning former members or alumni, as in Die Ehemaligen des Vereins trafen sich. This noun sense is common in schools, clubs, and organizations to refer to people who once belonged but no longer do.

Etymology and related forms: the word derives from the root ehemal-, meaning former, with the standard German adjectival suffix -ig. It is closely related to the adverb/equivalent forms like ehedem or ehemals, which convey a sense of past time without directly modifying a noun.

Usage notes: the term is neutral and widely used in formal and biographical contexts, including politics, academia, and professional life. It is distinct from the prefix Ex-, which appears in compound terms such as Ex-Präsident and is more common in modern or informal usage. Ehemalige therefore provides a traditional, formal alternative for indicating a past role or status.