Word of the Day: November 6, 2026
Quondam
adjectiveKWAHN-dum
What It Means
- Quondam is an adjective that means “former” or “sometime.”
- // Many people were surprised to learn that the quondam professor has since become a dancer.
- See the entry
Quondam in Context
“… quondam soccer legend David Beckham and his wife Victoria, formerly known as Posh Spice of the Spice Girls …” — Alex Beam, The Boston Globe, 31 July 2026
Vocab Builder:Quondam
1 of 3
Which of the following best demonstrates a meeting with a quondam friend?
A.
You run into someone you used to share a college apartment with but haven’t spoken to in ten years.
B.
You invite your current next-door neighbor over for a quick weekend cookout.
C.
You call a family member to plan a surprise party for a shared relative.
Did You Know?
Looking for an unusual and creative way to say “former”? Quondam (which came to English in the 16th century from Latin quondam, meaning “at one time” or “formerly”) certainly fits the bill. Or maybe you’d prefer whilom, ci-devant, or preterit. Or you could really go wild with umquhile, a word that is extremely rare even in its more natural Scots English setting. Quondam itself isn’t exactly ubiquitous, but it’s used more than any of the other words above. If you’re looking for something a bit more pedestrian, you might try erstwhile. Despite its wonderfully archaic flavor, erstwhile is a highly favored alternative.
