former

1
[ fawr-mer ]
/ ˈfɔr mər /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR former ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

preceding in time; prior or earlier: during a former stage in the proceedings.
past, long past, or ancient: in former times.
preceding in order; being the first of two: Our former manufacturing process was too costly.
being the first mentioned of two (distinguished from latter): The former suggestion was preferred to the latter.
having once, or previously, been; erstwhile: a former president.

Origin of former

1
1125–75; Middle English, equivalent to forme (Old English forma first) + -er -er4. Cf. foremost

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH former

former later latter

Words nearby former

formative element, formboard, formby, forme, forme fruste, former, formerly, formfitting, formful, formic, formic acid

Definition for former (2 of 2)

former 2
[ fawr-mer ]
/ ˈfɔr mər /

noun

a person or thing that forms or serves to form.
a pupil in a particular form or grade, especially in a British secondary school: fifth formers.

Origin of former

2
First recorded in 1300–50, former is from the Middle English word fourmer. See form, -er1

Content related to former

“Former” vs. “Latter”: What’s The Difference? If you list two things in sequence, you're likely to use "former" and "latter" to refer to them. But what do they mean and how do you use them correctly?
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Words related to former

old, departed, erstwhile, anterior, antecedent, ancient, bygone, past, prior, above, first, aforesaid, earlier, foregoing, late, once, one-time, preceding, sometime, quondam

Example sentences from the Web for former

British Dictionary definitions for former (1 of 2)

former 1
/ (ˈfɔːmə) /

adjective (prenominal)

belonging to or occurring in an earlier time former glory
having been at a previous time a former colleague
denoting the first or first mentioned of two in the former case
near the beginning

noun

the former the first or first mentioned of two: distinguished from latter

British Dictionary definitions for former (2 of 2)

former 2
/ (ˈfɔːmə) /

noun

a person or thing that forms or shapes
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