former head of state

/ˈfɔːrmər hɛd əv steɪt/

ex-head of government

The former head of state was invited to the summit as a special guest.

The ex-leader of the country was invited to the meeting as a guest of honor.

formal

A person who previously served as the leader or chief executive of a country.

The former head of state gave an interview about his legacy.

The ex-president spoke to the media about his impact during his term.

Diplomatic immunity may extend to a former head of state under certain conditions.

Former leaders might retain legal protections related to their official duties.

Often used in legal, political, or diplomatic contexts. The term emphasizes the person's past role rather than current status.

Collocations

former head of stateexecutive leader who has left officevisit by a former head of stateofficial or unofficial appearance by an ex-leaderrights of a former head of statelegal or diplomatic privileges granted to ex-leaders

Synonyms

ex-president ex-prime minister executive ex-leader former leader

Antonyms

current head of state incumbent leader sitting president

Related Phrases

head of governmentphrase

the chief executive officer of a state, such as a president or prime minister

head of statephrase

the ceremonial or symbolic leader of a country, which may be separate from the head of government

executive branchphrase

the part of government responsible for implementing laws, often led by the head of state or government

Pro Tip

Avoid confusion with 'head of state'

A 'head of state' is the symbolic leader (e.g., a monarch or president), while a 'head of government' is the chief executive (e.g., a prime minister). The term 'former head of state' can refer to either, depending on the country's system.

Gold Rule

Use 'former' for past roles only

The word 'former' must refer to a completed role. Do not use it for someone currently in office.

Capitalization rules

Capitalize 'Former Head of State' only when used as a title before a name (e.g., 'Former Head of State Barack Obama'). Otherwise, use lowercase.

Word Origin

The phrase combines 'former' (from Old French 'forain', meaning 'outer' or 'earlier'), 'head' (Old English 'heafod', meaning 'top' or 'leader'), and 'state' (from Latin 'status', meaning 'condition' or 'government'). The term emerged in political discourse to distinguish past leaders from current ones.

Usage Notes

This phrase is typically used in formal contexts such as news reports, legal documents, or diplomatic settings. It avoids implying any negative connotation about the individual's past performance. The term is neutral and widely understood in international contexts.

Word Breakdown

former

having previously held a position

adjective

head

leader or chief

noun

of state

belonging to or representing a nation

prepositional phrase

English Dictionary

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