Choose the most appropriate synonym for the word: "Erstwhile"
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Former
Erstwhile means former, belonging to an earlier time. It describes what someone or something used to be. Its synonym is former.
Example: The erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad joined India in 1948.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Wait | to stay until something happens (the "while" in erstwhile has nothing to do with waiting) | Please wait here till I return. |
| (2) Former (answer) | having been something in the past (both words describe an earlier position or state) | She met a former teacher at the wedding. |
| (3) Latter | the second of two things mentioned, or nearer the end (it is the partner of "former" in a pair, not its synonym) | Of tea and coffee, I prefer the latter. |
| (4) Arrest | to take someone into police custody, or to stop a process | The police arrested the thief at the station. |