ex

slang One's former spouse or romantic partner. All my money goes toward my ex's alimony every month. A: "Paul's dating someone else? Ugh, as if I care." B: "Well, he is your ex." A: "If my ex-boyfriend does come, I'm leaving the party." B: "Oh, come on. Don't be so dramatic."

With the authority that comes with one's position. This phrase is often used in reference to papal decrees deemed infallible. It is Latin for "from the chair," and can be used as both an adjective and an adverb. This is an ex cathedra statement from the pope, and the Catholic Church must abide by it. The CEO was speaking ex cathedra when he made this announcement, so we need to change our approach immediately. As a bishop, doesn't he have to abide by ex cathedra documents issued by the pope?

A payment made as a kind gesture, not due to a legal obligation. This phrase is always used before a noun. Yes, I make ex gratia payments to my ex-wife—I want our divorce to stay amicable. Yeah, I'm not buying this talk of "ex gratia payments" from the CEO to his former secretary. It sounds an awful lot like hush money to me. Yeah, they're not "ex gratia" payments to your victims if the court is forcing you to make them.

To draw an ex (X) or series of exes over some written word or name so as to designate its removal or need to be disregarded. A noun or pronoun can be used between "ex" and "out." A: "Why is Amy's name exed out?" B: "Because she's not coming on the field trip anymore." Just ex out all of the words that you feel need to be deleted in the next draft. We've exed out the sections of the map where we have already completed our search

A common mispronunciation and subsequent misspelling of "et cetera," a Latin phrase literally meaning "and the others," used to allude to or include other similar things without naming them directly. We want you to write about trendy, eye-catching topics. Celebrity gossip, fashion trends, excetera. A: "We produce high-quality images you can use for your company's website, social media accounts, marketing materials, excetera." B: "You mean 'et cetera,' right?" A: "Yeah, why? What did I say?" Did you just say "excetera"? You do know it's "et cetera," right?

Wow, what a really clumsy, ignorant, or foolish thing to do or say! (Ex-Lax is the brand name for a type of laxative, which helps promote bowel movements.) Primarily heard in US. Smooth move, Ex-Lax! Thanks to your insulting remarks, they've decided not to invest in the project! The plates all crashed to the floor as I slipped on the spilled wine, and someone in the corner of the restaurant shouted out, "Smooth move, Ex-Lax!"

With authority like that of the Pope. The expression, Latin words meaning “from the chair,” literally refers to the doctrine of papal infallibility, whereby the Pope, in statements on faith and morals, cannot be wrong. It began to be used figuratively in the early nineteenth century. “He was a great lover of form, more especially when he could dictate it ex cathedra” (Sir Walter Scott, Rob Roy, 1818).