What does "former" mean?
Someone who forms something; a maker; a creator or founder.
Former
/ˈfɔɹmɚ/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Someone who forms something; a maker; a creator or founder.
- Grammar: former is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: previous, aforementioned, aforenamed, aforesaid.
- Useful contrasts: current, modern, subsequent.
- Usage evidence: Kyoto was the former capital of Japan.
How to use "former"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "former" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "former" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "former" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "former" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "former" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "previous" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "former", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Someone who forms something; a maker; a creator or founder.
"Dave was the former of the company."
- 2 the first of two or the first mentioned of two wordnet
- 3 An object used to form something, such as a template, gauge, or cutting die.
"The brick arch was built using a wooden former."
- 4 Someone in, or of, a certain form (class). British
"Fifth-former."
Adjective
- 1 Previous. not-comparable
"A former president"
- 2 First of aforementioned two items. Used with the, often without a noun. not-comparable
"The former is a good idea but the latter is not."
Adjective
- 1 referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several) wordnet
- 2 belonging to the distant past wordnet
- 3 belonging to some prior time wordnet
- 4 (used especially of persons) of the immediate past wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"Kyoto was the former capital of Japan."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "former"?
Common synonyms include: previous, aforementioned, aforenamed, aforesaid, ancient, antecedent.
How do you use "former" in a sentence?
Kyoto was the former capital of Japan.
How do you pronounce "former"?
Pronounced /ˈfɔɹmɚ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Inherited from Middle English former, comparative of forme (“first”), from Old English forma (“first”), descended from Proto-Germanic *frumô. Parallel to prior (via Latin), as comparative form from same Proto-Indo-European root. Related to first and fore (thence before), from Proto-Germanic.
Etymology 2
Inherited from Middle English formere. By surface analysis, form + -er.