What does “former” mean?
- 1
adjectivehaving been a particular thing in the past, but not now
The former president gave a speech.
- 2
pronounthe first of two people or things just mentioned
Of tea and coffee, I prefer the former.
Former at a glance
- Part of speech
- adjective & pronoun
- CEFR level
- B1 (intermediate)
- Pronunciation
- /ˈfɔrmər/ · FOR-mer
How to use “former” correctly
“The former” means the first of two; “the latter” means the second. Both are formal.
Common phrases with “former”
- former boss
- the former and the latter
- former student
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- previous
- past
- ex-
Antonyms (opposite meaning)
- current
- latter
Word family
- formerly
“former” is on these word lists
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- decade nounB1a period of ten years
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- modern adjectiveA2of the present time or the recent past
- term nounB1a word or phrase with a particular meaning