Former partners (4)
I believe the answer is:
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">former partners</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(ex-lovers)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for exes that I've seen before include "former union members" , "Financial allowances" , "Expenses (abbrev.)" , "Former partners" , "Spouses once" .)