exwife

An ex-wife is a woman who was formerly married to another person but is no longer married to that person. The term is most commonly used when a marriage ends through divorce or legal dissolution. If a spouse dies, the surviving partner is usually referred to as a widow rather than an ex-wife; however, in informal usage the term may appear in some contexts.

Etymology and terminology: The word ex+wife signals a former marital status. The standard spelling is ex-wife with a hyphen, though variations such as exwife are less common. Alternatives in formal writing include former wife or previous wife, depending on tone and context.

Legal and social context: After a divorce or dissolution, the ex-wife’s legal rights and obligations regarding property division, alimony, and child custody are determined by the applicable law and the divorce decree. The label itself does not dictate the current nature of the relationship; some ex-spouses maintain cordial contact or co-parent effectively, while others have limited or no interaction.

Cultural usage: In biographies, news reports, and discussions of relationships, ex-wife is used to identify a former spouse. Some contexts favor neutral or formal language such as former wife to avoid casual connotations. Remarriage is common in many societies, which shifts the focus from past to present status in ongoing social or legal arrangements.

See also: divorce, alimony, child custody, remarriage, widow.