formerly

American  

[fawr-mer-lee] / ˈfɔr mər li /

adverb

1. in time past; in an earlier period or age; previously.

   a custom formerly observed.

2. Obsolete. in time just past; just now.

---

formerly British  

/ ˈfɔːməlɪ /

adverb

1. at or in a former time; in the past

2. obsolete in the immediate past; just now

---

Etymology

Origin of formerly

First recorded in 1580–90; former ¹ + -ly

Compare meaning

How does formerly compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• formerly vs. formally

Example Sentences

Premier David Eby granted Aboriginal title of Haida Gwaii—formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands—on the West Coast to the Haida Nation, who constitute only about half the archipelago’s population.

From The Wall Street Journal

All credit goes to John B. Judis, formerly of In These Times and the New Republic, for his ecumenical spirit.

From Salon

A formerly shady brook, enclosed by trees, has been opened out to form a wetland area.

From BBC

In recent months, the rise of artificial intelligence has been pummeling stocks in such industries as software and finance, as investors fear that companies formerly regarded as invincible could be stormed by AI.

From The Wall Street Journal

For users of the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter, Grok is tied to your X subscription.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• already
• earlier
• heretofore
• once