former

Former is an English adjective commonly used to indicate that something or someone previously held a position, status, or condition. It can also function as part of fixed phrases that refer to items already mentioned, such as in the pronouns the former and the latter, which point to the first or second of two referenced subjects.

As a modifier, former typically precedes the noun it describes: a former president, former colleagues, former habits. It signals that the described role or state applied in the past but is no longer in effect. In everyday writing, former is often paired with ex- as a prefix for people (ex-president) or with ex- for things (ex-house, ex-organization), though ex- can have a more informal or colloquial tone. Former tends to be slightly more formal and is common in journalism, academia, and official contexts.

In discourse, the terms the former and the latter are used to distinguish between two or more previously mentioned items. The former refers to the first item, while the latter refers to the last. Examples: “Among the two proposals, the former emphasizes cost, the latter emphasizes speed.” This usage helps avoid repetition but requires clear antecedents.

Etymology traces to long-standing Middle English usage, rooted in the sense of former or formerly as indicating past state. The word exists as a convenient, formal way to denote something that no longer applies, without specifying the exact time elapsed.