The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word BROWN
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
B
R
O
W
N
More clues leading to the result BROWN
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Ex-PM/having been given a roasting" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case ex-pm/having been given a roasting = brown.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does BROWN mean?
BROWN noun- A colour like that of chocolate or coffee.
- One of the colour balls used in snooker, with a value of 4 points.
- Black tar heroin.
- A copper coin.
- A brown horse or other animal.
- (sometimes capitalised) A person of Middle Eastern, Latino or South Asian descent; a brown-skinned person; someone of mulatto or biracial appearance.
- Any of various nymphalid butterflies of subfamily Satyrinae (formerly the family Satyridae).
- Any of certain species of nymphalid butterflies of subfamily Satyrinae, such as those of the genera Heteronympha and Melanitis.
- A brown trout (Salmo trutta).
- To become brown.
- To cook something until it becomes brown.
- To tan.
- To make brown or dusky.
- To give a bright brown colour to, as to gun barrels, by forming a thin coating of oxide on their surface.
- (usually derogatory) To turn progressively more Middle Eastern, Hispanic or Latino, in the context of the population of a geographic region.
- To treat with deference, or respect.
- Having a brown colour.
- Gloomy.
- (sometimes capitalized) Of or relating to any of various ethnic groups having dark pigmentation of the skin.