former president
Previous leader
Literalmente: Past/previous leader of a country or organization
Use `former president` to respectfully identify a past leader in formal or professional English contexts.
En 15 segundos
- Refers to a person who previously held the office of president.
- Used in news, history, and professional business discussions.
- More respectful than saying 'ex-president' in formal writing.
Significado
This phrase refers to a person who used to be the president but is not anymore. It is how we talk about leaders who have finished their time in office.
Ejemplos clave
3 de 6Watching the evening news
The former president arrived at the gala last night.
The previous leader arrived at the party.
Discussing history with a friend
Which former president do you think was the most influential?
Which past leader was the most important?
In a formal business meeting
We should consult the former president of the company on this matter.
We should ask the previous company head.
Contexto cultural
In many democracies, the 'Former Presidents Club' is an unofficial but powerful group. They often gather for funerals or library openings, showing national unity. The term highlights the democratic tradition of leaders stepping down voluntarily after their term ends.
The 'Ex' Factor
While `ex-president` is correct, it can sometimes sound a bit sharp or dismissive. Stick to `former` if you want to sound neutral and polite.
Still 'Mr. President'?
In the U.S., it is a cultural secret that people often still address a former president as `Mr. President` in person as a sign of lifelong respect for the office.
En 15 segundos
- Refers to a person who previously held the office of president.
- Used in news, history, and professional business discussions.
- More respectful than saying 'ex-president' in formal writing.
What It Means
Former president is a simple way to describe someone who held the top job. It means they finished their term or left the position. You are talking about their history, not their current power. It is like saying 'ex-boss' but much more respectful. You will hear this in news reports every single day. It applies to countries, but also to big companies or clubs.
How To Use It
Put former president right before the person's name. For example, Former president Smith gave a speech today. You can also use it as a title on its own. If you are introduced to one, you might still call them Mr. President. However, when writing about them, use former to be accurate. It acts like an adjective to describe their status. Just remember, once a president, always a former president—unless they get re-elected!
When To Use It
Use this in serious conversations about history or politics. It is perfect for news articles or school essays. You can use it at a dinner party when discussing world events. It is also great for business meetings if your company has a past leader. It shows you know your facts. It sounds smart and professional without being too stiff.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for someone currently in power. That would be a very awkward mistake! Avoid using it in super casual texts with friends unless you are joking. If you are talking about a small club, past president might sound more natural. Don't use it for kings or queens. They use different titles like abdicated. Also, don't use it for someone who was fired in a scandal unless you want to be very technical.
Cultural Background
In the US and many other countries, this title is a big deal. Even after they leave, former presidents get security and a pension. There is a 'club' of them who often help each other. It represents the peaceful move from one leader to the next. In American culture, we often keep calling them President [Name] out of respect. But the media always adds former to keep the news clear for everyone.
Common Variations
Ex-president: This is a bit more casual and sometimes sounds slightly negative.Past president: Common in small organizations or local rotary clubs.The late president: Use this if the former leader has passed away.Retired president: Rarely used for countries, but common for universities.
Notas de uso
This is a high-frequency collocation in journalism. It maintains a neutral to formal register. Avoid using it for social 'presidents' (like a 'president of the party') as it sounds too heavy.
The 'Ex' Factor
While `ex-president` is correct, it can sometimes sound a bit sharp or dismissive. Stick to `former` if you want to sound neutral and polite.
Still 'Mr. President'?
In the U.S., it is a cultural secret that people often still address a former president as `Mr. President` in person as a sign of lifelong respect for the office.
Don't capitalize 'former'
Unless it's at the start of a sentence, `former` is usually lowercase, while `President` is capitalized when it's part of a name: `former President Clinton`.
Ejemplos
6The former president arrived at the gala last night.
The previous leader arrived at the party.
Standard news reporting style.
Which former president do you think was the most influential?
Which past leader was the most important?
Engaging in a thoughtful conversation.
We should consult the former president of the company on this matter.
We should ask the previous company head.
Refers to corporate leadership history.
Look at you acting like the former president of the fan club!
You are acting like the old leader of the club.
Using the term playfully for a small group.
The former president spoke movingly about his friend's legacy.
The past leader gave a touching speech.
Shows respect during a somber event.
As a former president, she spent her time writing memoirs.
After being leader, she wrote books about her life.
Describes a person's life stage.
Ponte a prueba
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence about a past leader.
The ___ president was invited to the opening of the new museum.
`Former` is the standard adjective used to describe someone who previously held a title.
Which title is most appropriate for a formal news article?
___ President Barack Obama visited the university today.
`Former` is more respectful and professional than `ex-` or `old` in written news.
🎉 Puntuación: /2
Ayudas visuales
Ways to refer to a past leader
Used with friends or in casual blogs.
Ex-president
Standard for news and business.
Former president
Used in official ceremonies or protocol.
The Honorable [Name]
Where you will see 'Former President'
History Books
Studying past administrations.
News Headlines
Reporting on current activities of past leaders.
Documentaries
Interviews about past events.
Corporate Boardrooms
Referring to the previous CEO.
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasYes, it is very common in business. You can say, The former president of the company retired last year.
Mostly, yes, but ex-president is more informal. Former president is the preferred term for serious writing and news.
No, former is an adjective and should be lowercase unless it starts a sentence. For example: We met former President Bush.
You can still use former president, but it is more common to say the late president when referring to someone who has passed away.
Yes, especially in smaller organizations like a local club or a charity board. For a country, former is more common.
It is grammatically correct, but it sounds a bit like you are talking about a sequence. Former sounds more like a title.
Usually, you would use The Honorable [Full Name]. In the body of the letter, you can refer to them as the former president.
Absolutely! Any living person who once held the office is a former president. There are often several at once.
Not at all! It is a factual and respectful way to describe their current status.
Yes, you just say former vice president. The rule works for almost any high-ranking title.
Frases relacionadas
Incumbent president
The person currently holding the office.
President-elect
The person who has won the election but hasn't started the job yet.
Predecessor
The person who had the job immediately before the current person.
Outgoing leader
A leader who is about to leave their position.
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