former

adjective

1. 1

   Previous.

   A former president

   the former East Germany

   At half-past nine on this Saturday evening, the parlour of the Salutation Inn, High Holborn, contained most of its customary visitors.[…]In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle, a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening, for a pipe and a cheerful glass.

   The former-slaves-turned-abolitionists Quobna Ottobah Cugoano and Olaudah Equiano were the chief organizers of the Sons of Africa.

noun

1. 1

   First of aforementioned two items.

   The former is a good idea but the latter is not.

   We have two cars, a red one and a blue one. We won the former on a game show.

   Bananas are tastier than parsnips, but the latter’s nutritional value is higher than the former’s.

noun

1. 1

   Someone who forms something; a maker; a creator or founder.

   Dave was the former of the company.

2. 2

   An object used to form something, such as a template, gauge, or cutting die.

   The brick arch was built using a wooden former.

3. 3

   Someone in, or of, a certain form (class).

   Fifth-former.

   Sixth-former.

Forms

plural

formers