Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Belonging to a past time: Refers to something that existed or happened in the past, but not necessarily the immediate past.
   • Of the immediate past: Refers to the most recent holder of a title or position before the current one.
   • Being the first of two things mentioned: Used to refer to the first of two people or things that have just been talked about.

2. Noun:

   • The first of two: Refers specifically to the first of two people or things that have been mentioned.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • In former times, life was very different. (Describing a period in the distant past.)
  • The former president gave a speech. (Referring to the person who held the position immediately before the current one.)
  • I studied French and German; the former language was easier for me. (Referring to the first item, 'French', in the mentioned pair.)

• Noun:

  • We have tea and coffee. Would you like the former? (Referring to 'tea', the first item offered.)
  • Both candidates were qualified, but only the former was selected. (Referring to the first candidate mentioned.)

Advanced Usage

• "The former... the latter...": A common paired structure to distinguish between two items.
  • He was offered a managerial role or a technical advisor role; he chose the former. (He chose the managerial role.)
• "Former glory": Refers to a past state of greatness, success, or beauty.
  • The aging athlete tried to recapture his former glory.

Variants and Related Words

• Formerly (adverb): At a previous time; in the past.
  • This building was formerly a school.
• Erstwhile (adjective, formal): Former; in the past.
  • Her erstwhile colleague now runs a rival company.

Synonyms

• Previous: Happening or existing before the one mentioned.
• Earlier: Happening or existing before another event or time.
• One-time: Former; that was once but is no longer.
• Late (used before a noun): Recently deceased or, in some contexts, former (e.g., the late president).

Antonyms

• Latter: The second of two things mentioned.
• Current: Belonging to the present time.
• Future: Belonging to a time after the present.

Notes on Usage

• As an adjective, "former" always comes before the noun it describes (e.g., , ).
• When used as a noun ("the former"), it is almost always preceded by the definite article "the."
• The phrase "the former" is only used when exactly two items have been specified. For more than two, use "the first."

Adjective

1. belonging to the distant past
   • the early inhabitants of Europe
   • former generations
   • in other times
2. (used especially of persons) of the immediate past
   • the former president
   • our late President is still very active
   • the previous occupant of the White House
3. belonging to some prior time
   • erstwhile friend
   • our former glory
   • the once capital of the state
   • her quondam lover
4. referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several); I prefer the former version to the latter one"
   • the novel was made into a film in 1943 and again in 1967

Noun

1. the first of two or the first mentioned of two
   • Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the former is remembered today