toenmalige

Toenmalige is a Dutch adjective meaning former or of a prior period. It is used to describe a person, office, or situation that existed in the past but no longer applies in the present. In Dutch, the term is common in formal or historical writing to indicate that someone previously held an official position or that a condition belonged to an earlier time.

The word is typically placed directly before the noun it modifies. A standard construction is de/het + toenmalige + noun, for example de toenmalige burgemeester (the former mayor) or het toenmalige kabinet (the former cabinet). The form is regularly used with definite determiners and in various number contexts. A closely related noun or adjective is voormalig, which carries a similar meaning but may be preferred in broader or more general contexts.

Etymology and usage notes: toenmalige is formed from toen meaning “at that time” and a suffix that marks a temporal attribute. The term has been part of the Dutch lexicon for many centuries and remains common in contemporary usage, especially in biographies, historical summaries, and formal reports.

See also: voormalig, vroeger, destijds. Examples illustrate its use in describing past roles or conditions: “De toenmalige minister van Buitenlandse Zaken sprak zondag” and “In de rapportage wordt verwezen naar de toenmalige situatie.” The nuance of toenmalige emphasizes the temporal aspect of the former status, distinguishing it from more permanent-sounding termen.