ex-military
UK[ˌeks ˈmɪlətri]US[ˌeks ˈmɪləteri]
adj
Being a former member of the armed forces.
Morpheme Breakdown
ex
military
ex
out of, former
military
armed forces
Etymology
The word is a modern English compound formed by directly attaching the Latin prefix ex-, meaning "out of" or "former," to the English adjective military. This prefix, derived from the Proto-Indo-European eǵhs (out), is commonly used in English to denote a former state or status. The term military itself originates from Latin militaris, pertaining to a soldier (miles). Thus, the literal construction "former military" transparently describes someone who has left the armed services, with the prefix cleanly indicating the transition from a past identity to a current civilian one.
Analysis
Structure: ex (out of, former) + military (armed forces)
- ex: A prefix of Latin origin meaning "out of, from, thoroughly, or former."
- military: An adjective of Latin origin (from militaris, relating to a soldier or war) referring to the armed forces.
Examples
He found a well-paying job in private security, leveraging his skills as an ex-military officer.
The support group provides counseling services specifically for ex-military personnel adjusting to civilian life.
Her ex-military discipline was evident in the precise and organized way she managed the project.