Ex-wife refers to a term that denotes a former wife, specifically a woman who was once married to an individual but is no longer legally wedded to them. It is a compound word that combines the prefix "ex-" meaning "former" or "no longer," with the noun "wife," which signifies a married woman. The term ex-wife is generally used to describe the relationship status post-divorce or separation.

An ex-wife can be someone who has gone through the dissolution of a marriage due to various reasons such as irreconcilable differences, infidelity, financial issues, or other personal conflicts. The termination of the marriage typically occurs through a legal process known as divorce, which officially ends the marital relationship. After a divorce, the ex-wife no longer holds the legal rights and responsibilities that come with the status of being a spouse, including financial obligations and spousal privileges.

The term ex-wife often carries the connotation that the woman in question was once a significant part of the individual's life, but they have since separated and moved on to different paths. It signifies that the former couple has legal and social ties in the past but are no longer together.

Overall, the term ex-wife is a descriptor employed to refer to a woman who was previously married to an individual but is presently divorced or separated from them, encapsulating the end of their marital relationship.