erstwhile

1 of 2

adverb

erst·​while ˈərst-ˌ(h)wī(-ə)l How to pronounce erstwhile (audio)
: in the past : formerly
cultures, erstwhile unknown to each otherRobert Plank

erstwhile

2 of 2

adjective

: former, previous
erstwhile enemies

Did you know?

The adverb erstwhile has been part of English since at least the 16th century, but it is formed from two words that are much older. It comes from the Old English words aer, meaning "early," and hwil, which has the same meaning as the modern word while. (The English word ere, meaning "before," is also a descendant of aer.) These days erstwhile is more likely to be encountered as an adjective, as in "erstwhile enemies." That adjective use is a much more recent development, having joined the language about three centuries after the adverb.

Examples of erstwhile in a Sentence

Adverb there's now a store where erstwhile lay green and pleasant pastures Adjective my erstwhile friend ignored me when I ran into her at the reunion
Recent Examples on the Web
Adverb
In South Africa’s middle class suburban areas, including Randburg, where there’s more visible policing, lockdown measures are being tightly enforced, leaving several erstwhile busy stalls and shopping areas empty. Quartz Africa, 4 Apr. 2020
Adjective
Other collaborators will also tour the country with the erstwhile rapper, including Nate Mercereau, Surya Botofasina and Deantoni Parks. Dawn Burkes, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2024 Robert McDowall, their erstwhile supporter on the States and one of the central figures implicated in the corruption charges, had been appointed the third trustee of JTrails, alongside Roberts’s wife and James. Rebecca Panovka, Harper's Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024 But with erstwhile opponent Lauren Boebert leaving the 3rd Congressional District to run in the 4th, the fundraising dynamics across Colorado’s two largest districts are in for a shakeup. John Aguilar, The Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2024 During his third term as prime minister, in 2017, Sharif was forced out amid corruption allegations, paving the way for Khan, the erstwhile cricket star, to take power the following year on an anti-corruption platform. Rick Noack, Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2024 An erstwhile citrus fruit-packing building that lay mostly dormant since the early 1970s before the city bought the property in 1996 and embarked on development, the Packing House now bustles with nighttime activity. Sam McManis, Sacramento Bee, 25 Jan. 2024 That tennis court estate, which the erstwhile couple acquired in 2009 for $7 million, was sold amid their 2015 divorce for $9 million to its current owners—a local cardiologist and his dentist wife. James McClain, Robb Report, 21 Feb. 2024 With erstwhile ace German Marquez injured, Kyle Freeland inherits a difficult job. Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 Similarly, Modi has also made comments about India’s erstwhile Islamic rulers, the Mughals, who ruled much of the country from 1526 to 1858. Rhea Mogul, CNN, 4 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'erstwhile.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

1569, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of erstwhile was in 1569

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Dictionary Entries Near erstwhile

Cite this Entry

“Erstwhile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/erstwhile. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

erstwhile

1 of 2 adverb
erst·​while ˈərst-ˌ(h)wīl How to pronounce erstwhile (audio)
: in the past : once, formerly

erstwhile

2 of 2 adjective

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