Former is used to describe someone who used to have a particular job, position, or role, but no longer has it.
The unemployed executives include former sales managers, directors and accountants.
...former President Richard Nixon.
He pleaded not guilty to murdering his former wife.
Synonyms: previous, one-time, erstwhile, ex- More Synonyms of former
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Former is used to refer to countries which no longer exist or whose boundaries have changed.
...the former Soviet Union.
...the former Yugoslavia.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Former is used to describe something which used to belong to someone or which used to bea particular thing.
...the former home of Sir Christopher Wren.
...a former monastery.
4. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Former is used to describe a situation or period of time which came before the present one.
[formal]
He would want you to remember him as he was in former years.
Synonyms: past, earlier, long ago, bygone More Synonyms of former
5. pronoun
When two people, things, or groups have just been mentioned, you can refer to thefirst of them as the former.
If there is a choice between using fresh vegetables and canned foods, always choosethe former.
Voters want personal prosperity and public spending. They will not sacrifice theformer to the latter.
latter
More Synonyms of former
former in British English1
(ˈfɔːmə)
adjective(prenominal)
1.
belonging to or occurring in an earlier time
former glory
2.
having been at a previous time
a former colleague
3.
denoting the first or first mentioned of two
in the former case
4.
near the beginning
noun
5. the former
former in British English2
(ˈfɔːmə)
noun
1.
a person or thing that forms or shapes
2. electrical engineering
a tool for giving a coil or winding the required shape, sometimes consisting of a frame on which the wire can be wound, the frame then being removed
former in American English1
(ˈfɔrmər)
adjective
1.
preceding in time; earlier; past
in former times
2.
first mentioned of two
often used absolutely (with the)
Jack and Bill are twins, but the former is taller than the latter
see also latter
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈprevious
Word origin
ME formere, compar. of forme, first < OE forma: see foremost
former in American English2
(ˈfɔrmər)
noun
a person or thing that forms
More idioms containing
former
a shadow of someone's or something's former self
Examples of 'former' in a sentence
former
Departing members of the government are prohibited from lobbying former colleagues for two years.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The former world champ is facing a lifetime ban.
The Sun (2016)
The couple moved to the area after their former home was struck by lightning and burnt down.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But we former players of a certain vintage are wary about writing off anything with his big bear paw imprint upon it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The husband is in his sixties and his former wife is 20 years younger.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This week's game is a clash from Moscow between two former world champions.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The two teachers are former singers from the choir.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
No one wants a former employee to turn up to the celebration of a bumper bonus.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
His performance that year drew gasps from fans and former players alike.
The Sun (2009)
Some were serving or former police officers.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Why would the former choose to write his piece mostly in the first person?
Goshgarian, Gary Exploring language (6th edn) (1995)
There are many reasons why you might choose the former.
The Sun (2011)
He looked totally off the pace as the former world champions flopped and embarrassingly crashed out in the group stage.
The Sun (2014)
The iconic former player and manager is performing a number of roles and the manager is delighted to have him involved.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It seems inconsistent, but the former may help to explain the latter.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Former staff members tell how it was more than just a place to work, and cry talking about its closure.
The Sun (2013)
The former may be individuals.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
The former wife had already received about 42m and was refused a further 10m.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The study of 39 athletes included former Olympians.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I suggest that some men would not be much interested in building the legacy of their partner's former husband.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Comedy about two former advertising executives who set up their own small-scale crèche, which becomes a success.
The Sun (2009)
The former home secretary called for a'major stepping up' of efforts to counter those spreading an extremist message.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He credits his wife, a former fitness model whom he met four years ago, with much of that.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
FORMER Army officers will drill the unemployed on how to get a job, it emerged last night.
The Sun (2011)
Word lists with
former
tool
In other languages
former
British English: former /ˈfɔːmə/ ADJECTIVE
You use former when you are talking about someone or something in the past.
…the former president.
American English: former
Arabic: سَابِق
Brazilian Portuguese: anterior
Chinese: 以前的
Croatian: bivši
Czech: bývalý
Danish: tidligere
Dutch: voormalig
European Spanish: antiguo anterior
Finnish: entinen
French: ancien ex
German: ehemalig
Greek: πρώην
Italian: ex
Japanese: 以前の
Korean: 전의
Norwegian: foregående
Polish: poprzedni
European Portuguese: anterior
Romanian: fost
Russian: бывший
Latin American Spanish: antiguo
Swedish: föregående
Thai: ก่อนหน้านี้
Turkish: eski önceki
Ukrainian: колишній
Vietnamese: người tiền nhiệm
All related terms of 'former'
the former
the first or first mentioned of two: distinguished from latter
former glory
Glory is the fame and admiration that you gain by doing something impressive .
former pupil
someone who used to attend a particular school or be a student of a particular teacher
sixth former
A sixth former is a pupil who is in the sixth form at a British school.
Former Prophets
a subdivision of the books constituting the second main part of the Hebrew Bible , Joshua , Judges , I-II Samuel , and I-II Kings
former soldier
A soldier is a person who works in an army, especially a person who is not an officer.
opinion former
Opinion formers are people who have a lot of influence over what the public thinks about things.
be a shadow of one's former self
If you say that someone is a shadow of their former self , you mean that they are much less strong or capable than they used to be.
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
a landlocked republic in SE Europe, comprising the NW half of ancient Macedon : it became part of the kingdom of Serbs , Croats , and Slovenes (subsequently Yugoslavia ) in 1913; it declared independence in 1991, but Greece objected to the use of the historical name Macedonia ; in 1993 it was recognized by the UN. Official language: Macedonian . Religion: Orthodox Christian majority , Muslim minority . Currency: denar . Capital: Skopje . Pop: 2 083 160 (2017 est). Area: 25 713 sq km (10 028 sq miles)
a shadow of someone's or something's former self
said to mean that someone or something is much less powerful or capable than they used to be
Chinese translation of 'former'
former
(ˈfɔːməʳ)
adj
[husband, president etc]前任的 (qiánrèn de)
⇒ He's a former army officer.他是位前任军官。 (Tā shì wèi qiánrèn jūnguān.)
(= earlier)[power, authority]以前的 (yǐqián de)
⇒ They have lost much of their former authority.他们失去了许多以前的权力。 (Tāmen shīqùle xǔduō yǐqián de quánlì.)
pron
the former前者 (qiánzhě)
⇒ The former believe in a strong centralized government.前者信仰强有力的中央集权制的政府。 (Qiánzhě xìnyǎng qiáng yǒulì de zhōngyāng jíquánzhì de zhèngfǔ.)
in former times/years以前 (yǐqián)
请勿将 former 和 previous 混淆。former 是指某人曾经拥有的某个特定的工作、职位或角色，或者指某个曾经存在，但现已消失的状况。 ... former President Bill Clinton ... He murdered his former wife.previous 用来指先前，即说话前所发生的事情或存在的事物。 She has a teenage daughter from a previous marriage ... Crime increased in 2001 compared with the previous year.
1 (adjective)
Definition
having been at a previous time
I learned from my former boss that it was fun to work.
Synonyms
previous
They had brought their furniture from their previous house.
one-time
a one-time officer in the Royal Navy
erstwhile
He is suing his erstwhile friend and business partner.
ex-
late
earlier
Earlier reports of a second referendum have not been confirmed.
prior
He claimed he had no prior knowledge of the protest.
sometime
She was in her early thirties, a sometime actress, dancer and singer.
foregoing
antecedent
They were allowed to take account of antecedent legislation.
anterior
memories of our anterior existences
quondam
whilom (archaic)
ci-devant (French)
Opposites
coming
,
following
,
future
,
current
,
succeeding
,
latter
,
subsequent
,
ensuing
2 (adjective)
Definition
belonging to or occurring in an earlier time
Remember him as he was in former years.
Synonyms
past
a return to the turbulence of past centuries
earlier
long ago
bygone
bygone generations
old
He was keen to visit his old house.
ancient
He produced articles and stories on his ancient typewriter.
departed
old-time
I love old-time music-hall songs.
long gone
of yore
Opposites
future
, present,
current
,
modern
,
present-day
3 (adjective)
Most people can be forgiven for choosing the former option.
Synonyms
aforementioned
the aforementioned conference
above
The department posted the above picture on its website.
first mentioned
aforesaid
the aforesaid organizations and institutions
preceding
Please refer back to the preceding chapter.
foregoing
The foregoing discussion has highlighted the difficulties.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of above
Definition
appearing in a previous place (in something written or printed)
The department posted the above picture on its website.
Synonyms
preceding,
earlier,
previous,
prior,
foregoing,
aforementioned,
aforesaid
in the sense of aforesaid
Definition
referred to previously
the aforesaid organizations and institutions
Synonyms
aforementioned,
previously mentioned,
earlier mentioned,
prior mentioned,
aforenamed
in the sense of ancient
He produced articles and stories on his ancient typewriter.
Synonyms
old-fashioned,
past,
dated,
outdated,
obsolete,
out of date,
old-time,
archaic,
unfashionable,
antiquated,
outmoded,
passé,
musty,
old hat,
behind the times,
fusty,
superannuated,
out of style,
obsolescent,
square (informal),
cobwebby,
démodé,
out of the ark (informal),
oldfangled,
(old-)fogeyish
Synonyms of 'former'
former
Explore 'former' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of prior
Definition
previous
He claimed he had no prior knowledge of the protest.
Synonyms
earlier,
previous,
former,
preceding,
foregoing,
antecedent,
aforementioned,
pre-existing,
anterior,
pre-existent
in the sense of quondam
Definition
of an earlier time
Synonyms
former,
late,
earlier,
past,
previous,
retired,
one-time,
sometime,
foregoing,
bygone,
ex-
in the sense of sometime
Definition
former
She was in her early thirties, a sometime actress, dancer and singer.