Former meaning

What does “former” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“former” is a noun and adjective with 5 meanings. Its most common meaning is: the first of two or the first mentioned of two.

former

the first of two or the first mentioned of two
“Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the former is remembered today”
Oppositeslatter

referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
“the novel was made into a film in 1943 and again in 1967; I prefer the former version to the latter one”
Oppositeslatter
belonging to some prior time
“erstwhile friend”
“our former glory”
Synonymserstwhile old onetime one-time quondam sometime
(used especially of persons) of the immediate past
“the former president”
“our late President is still very active”
Synonymslate previous
belonging to the distant past
“the early inhabitants of Europe”
“former generations”
Synonymsearly other

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University