former

¹

[ fawr-mer ]

adjective

1. preceding in time; prior or earlier:

   The first contestants were eliminated during a former stage in the proceedings.

2. past, long past, or ancient:

   In former times, willow was consumed for pain.

3. preceding in order; being the first of two:

   Our former manufacturing process was too costly.

   Synonyms: antecedent, foregoing

4. being the first mentioned of two ( latter ):

   The former suggestion was preferred to the latter one.

5. having once, or previously, been; erstwhile:

   Every former president receives a lifelong security detail.

   Synonyms: ex-, past

noun

1. the for·mer, the first mentioned of two ( the latter ):

   There are still economy and business class tickets available, but be sure to book the former if you're on a budget.

former

²

[ fawr-mer ]

noun

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

   fifth formers.

former

¹

/ ˈfɔːmə /

adjective

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

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

former

²

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of former¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English, equivalent to forme ( Old English forma “first”) + -er -er ⁴; foremost

Origin of former²

First recorded in 1300–50, former is from the Middle English word fourmer. See form, -er ¹

Related Words

• departed
• erstwhile
• old