Word: Former

Pronunciation

/ˈfɔːrmər/

Definitions

• Noun: A person who previously held a specified position or had a particular role. For example: “The former president attended the ceremony.”
• Adjective: Referring to something that existed earlier or was before another thing. It can also be used to denote the first of two things mentioned. For example: “In his former life, he was a musician.” or “The former arrangement was more efficient.”

Noun usage examples

• “She is now working as a consultant, but her former job was in finance.”
• “The former owners left the house in good condition.”

Adjective usage examples

• “They decided to sell their former home and move to the countryside.”
• “Of the two designs, the latter proved more popular than the former.”

Phrases

• “Formerly known as” - used when introducing a new name for something or someone after a change: “The company, formerly known as ABC Inc., has rebranded to XYZ Corp.”
• “In his/her former capacity” - referring to someone’s previous role or position: “As CEO, he made many important decisions, but in his former capacity as CFO, he focused on financial strategies.”

Example Sentences

• Noun: “The former champion boxer announced his comeback to the sport.”
• Adjective: “We’re moving into our new office; this one will become our former workplace.”

Synonyms

• Previous (adj.)
• Ex- (prefix for nouns)
• Prior (adj.)
• Old (adj., in certain contexts)
• Earlier (adj.)
• Preceding (adj.)