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previous president
/ˈpriːviəs ˈprɛzɪdənt/
former head of state
The previous president gave a speech at the conference.
The former leader of the country delivered a speech.
formal
The individual who held the office of president before the current one.
The previous president was invited to the inauguration ceremony.
The former president was asked to attend the swearing-in event.
In her memoir, the previous president reflected on her time in office.
The ex-president wrote about her experiences while leading the nation.
Often used in political discourse, news reports, and historical contexts. The term emphasizes the temporal sequence rather than implying any negative connotation.
Collocations
previous president's administrationthe government led by the former presidentformer presidenta common synonym for 'previous president'past presidentanother alternative to 'previous president'
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid ambiguity
Use 'previous president' when referring to the immediate predecessor. For earlier presidents, specify the time frame (e.g., 'the president before the previous one').
Gold Rule
Temporal precision
The phrase 'previous president' always refers to the one who served immediately before the current president. Do not use it for presidents from earlier periods.
Word Origin
The phrase combines 'previous' (from Latin 'praevius', meaning 'going before') and 'president' (from Latin 'praesidere', meaning 'to preside over'). The term emerged in the 18th century alongside the establishment of presidential systems in republics.
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral and factual, used to refer to the immediate predecessor in office. It avoids implying any judgment about the individual's performance. In some contexts, 'former president' is preferred for brevity.
Word Breakdown
previous
before in time or order
adjectivepresident
the elected head of state
nounEnglish Dictionary