ex-spouse
Former marriage partner
An ex-spouse is a former husband or wife—someone to whom one was previously married.
The term is neutral and administrative, useful when referring to divorced partners without specifying gender: My ex-spouse and I share custody.
In casual speech, people usually just say my ex.
Legal end of matrimony
- custodyProtective care or control
- alimonyCourt-ordered post-divorce payments
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
- decreeAuthoritative legal command
visitation · court · child support · mediation · attorney · petition · dissolution · separation agreement
Court-ordered post-divorce payments
- assetsOwned items of value
- debtMoney owed another
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
- property divisionDistributing jointly owned assets
retirement accounts · mortgage · tax filing · insurance · hidden assets · forensic accountant · pension · business valuation
Protective care or control
- visitationOfficial or formal visit
- childrenYoung human beings
- handoffDirect physical exchange
- schedulePlan of timed events
holidays · communication · boundaries · blended family · stepparent · parenting plan · pickup · dropoff
Persistent bitter displeasure
- closureSense of emotional resolution
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- healingRestoration of health
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
forgiveness · anger · betrayal · heartbreak · moving on · therapy · acceptance · letting go
People known to both parties
- awkwardnessLack of grace or ease
- weddingsMarriage celebration events
- gatheringsOccasions of congregating
- family eventsOccasions involving relatives
introductions · boundaries · social media · unfollowing · blocking · avoiding · encounters · running into
divorce
Legal end of matrimony
- custodyProtective care or control
- alimonyCourt-ordered post-divorce payments
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
decree · visitation · court · child support · mediation · attorney · petition · dissolution · separation agreement · marital property
alimony
Court-ordered post-divorce payments
- assetsOwned items of value
- debtMoney owed another
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
property division · retirement accounts · mortgage · tax filing · insurance · hidden assets · forensic accountant · pension · business valuation · financial disclosure
custody
Protective care or control
- visitationOfficial or formal visit
- childrenYoung human beings
- handoffDirect physical exchange
schedule · holidays · communication · boundaries · blended family · stepparent · parenting plan · pickup · dropoff · shared custody
resentment
Persistent bitter displeasure
bitterness · forgiveness · anger · betrayal · heartbreak · moving on · therapy · acceptance · letting go · hurt
mutual friends
People known to both parties
- awkwardnessLack of grace or ease
- weddingsMarriage celebration events
- gatheringsOccasions of congregating
family events · introductions · boundaries · social media · unfollowing · blocking · avoiding · encounters · running into · explaining
- marriagebride, groom, wedding, husband, wife
- Former Rolesex-president, ex-wife, ex-husband, ex-boyfriend, ex-girlfriend
- spouseshusband, wife, hubby, wifey, missus
- divorcedivorce court, divorce decree, divorce papers, divorce filing, divorce lawyer
- ex-relativesex-wife, ex-husband, ex-stepmother, ex-stepfather
- exesex, ex-boyfriend, ex-girlfriend, ex-husband, ex-wife
ex-spousespouse
Married partner
husband · wife · partner · life partner · newlywed
ex-spousefiancé
Man pledged to marry
fiancée · betrothed · intended · bride-to-be
ex-spousestranger
Person not yet known
acquaintance · one-night stand · never-married · bachelor · bachelorette
spouse, spouses, spousal, espouse, espoused, espouses, espousing, espousal