Formerly

Formerly is an English adverb of time meaning “in the past” or “previously.” It signals that a state, condition, or fact applied at an earlier time but is not true or current now. It can modify a verb phrase or the entire clause, and it is usable at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis or after the subject in standard word order.

The form is created from the adjective former with the adverbial suffix -ly. It dates from Middle English and has remained common in both formal and general writing. Its usage tends to be straightforward and unambiguous, but it is most helpful when contrasting past and present situations.

In practice, formerly typically accompanies constructions describing change or historical context. It can pair with be, have, or action verbs, and it is frequently used in legal, historical, or journalistic prose. Examples include: “Formerly, the site was a river port,” or “The region, formerly under British control, gained independence.” The phrase “formerly known as” is a well-established collocation used to indicate a previous corporate or geographic name, as in “the company, formerly known as Acme Corp.”

Related terms include previously, in the past, and erstwhile (more literary or archaic). While formerly and previously are often interchangeable, formerly tends to imply a clearer distinction between past and present states. Overall, formerly is a concise tool for marking historical context or changes over time in neutral, informational writing.