ex-

ex-

used as a prefix meaning ‘former’, causes no difficulty when it is attached to single words (ex-convict / ex-president / ex-lover). Fowler's objection to its use with noun phrases (ex-Lord Mayor / ex-Prime Minister) as ‘patent yet prevalent absurdities’, is uncharacteristically pedantic, and the eye easily accommodates most expression of this kind. In more awkward cases, especially where further hyphenation is involved, former is always available (a former trade-union leader). Ex- has a special use in ex-directory, meaning ‘not listed in a (telephone) directory’, in ex-dividend, meaning ‘before payment of a dividend’, and in ex-VAT, meaning ‘before VAT has been added’.