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ex

Ex is a term with multiple uses in English and related languages, covering prefix, noun, and letter concepts, with meaning depending on context.

As a prefix, ex- comes from Latin ex meaning out of, from, or away. It attaches to

As a standalone word, ex is also the spoken name of the letter X, the 24th letter

In law and governance, ex can appear in fixed phrases such as ex officio (by virtue of

Beyond these uses, ex also appears in personal, cultural, and brand contexts where its meaning is defined

nouns
and
verbs
to
indicate
origin
or
prior
status,
as
in
exhale
(breathe
out),
exterior
(the
outer
part),
or
ex-president
(a
former
president).
In
compounds
describing
relationships,
ex-
denotes
a
former
partner,
e.g.,
ex-husband,
ex-wife,
or
ex-girlfriend.
This
usage
is
common
in
informal
speech
and
writing.
of
the
Latin
alphabet.
X
functions
as
a
symbol
in
many
domains:
a
variable
in
algebra,
the
axis
label
on
graphs,
the
indicator
of
a
cross
or
a
kiss
in
informal
writing,
and,
in
conjunction
with
other
words,
as
a
prefix
or
in
compound
terms
(X-ray,
X-axis,
X-games).
In
Roman
numerals,
X
represents
ten.
office)
or
ex
parte
(by
or
for
one
party
on
legal
matters),
reflecting
the
broader
Latin
lineage
of
the
word.
by
surrounding
text.
Overall,
ex
is
a
multi-use
term
whose
interpretation
depends
on
whether
it
functions
as
a
prefix,
a
noun
describing
a
former
partner,
or
the
name
of
a
letter
and
symbol.