ex-con
UK[ˌeks ˈkɒn]US[ˌeks ˈkɑːn]
n
A person who has previously been convicted of a crime and served time in prison.
Morpheme Breakdown
ex
con
ex
former
con
convict
Etymology
The term "ex-con" is a modern English compound formed in the 20th century. It combines the Latin prefix "ex-," meaning "former" or "out of," with the clipped slang term "con," an abbreviation of "convict." The word "convict" itself derives from Latin "convictus," the past participle of "convincere" (to overcome, prove wrong), which evolved to mean a person proven guilty. Thus, "ex-con" literally and logically denotes a "former convict," someone who has completed a prison sentence and is now out of the penal system.
Analysis
Structure: ex (former) + con (convict)
- ex: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "out of, from, former."
- con: English origin, a clipped form of the noun "convict," meaning a person found guilty of a crime and serving a prison sentence.
Examples
After serving his sentence, the ex-con struggled to find stable employment.
The program is designed to help ex-cons reintegrate into society.
He was wary of his new neighbor, having heard rumors he was an ex-con.