former1 adjectiveformer2 noun
formerfor‧mer1 /ˈfɔːmə $ ˈfɔːrmər/ ●●● S2 W1 adjective [only before noun] 
WORD ORIGINformer1
Origin:
1100-1200 forme ‘first’ (12-16 centuries), from Old English formaEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Canada is a former British colony.
- Civil war raged for years in the former Yugoslavia.
- He was an adviser to former President Reagan.
- Her former husband now lives in Houston.
- Weinburger was an advisor to former president Ronald Reagan.
- In the fall of 1990 we moved our baking facility from Forestville to downtown Santa Rosa, into a former tortilla factory.
- Most of the former inmates sought refuge in his abbey, and many stayed on to help run it.
THESAURUSthe one before this one
most recent or nearest to the present time: · His last film was much better.· It rained all day last Saturday.· The last time I saw her was two years ago.
[only before noun] before this one, or before the one that you are talking about: · See the diagram in the previous chapter.· His previous records had all been jazz records.· How much were you earning in your previous job?
[only before noun] formal existing or having a particular position in the past, but not now: · the former Soviet Union· the former US president· Interest rates are unlikely to return to their former level.· the former Chief Executive
[only before noun] used about a person or thing that existed in the past, but has been replaced by a newer one: · an old boyfriend· The old model was much slower.
[only before noun] used when talking about a person, thing, time etc before the one that you are talking about now: · The car’s previous owner didn’t take very good care of it.· Please ignore my previous instructions.· The temperature is higher than in previous years.
[only before noun] used when talking about the one that you had just before now, or the one that existed just before now: · The last apartment we lived in was much smaller than this one.· Ben’s last girlfriend was a teacher.· Beth broke up with her last boyfriend because he drank too much.
[only before noun] used when talking about people you knew or things you had in the past, or about things that existed in the past and have been replaced by newer things: · I never liked my old boss.· I saw Phil with one of my old girlfriends.· The new stadium is much bigger than the old one.· He was my old maths teacher.
[only before noun] formal coming just before the time or thing you have just mentioned, or before the part of a book where you are now: · There were fewer crimes compared to the preceding year.· The author dealt with this subject in the preceding chapters of the book.· In the preceding section of the poem, Whitman is talking about how important it is to live in the present.
[only before noun] formal used to describe someone or something that used to have a particular job or position but does not anymore: · her former husband· the former US president· Kyoto was the former capital of Japan.
someone who used to be someone’s wife, used to be a soldier etc, but is not anymore: · Her dad’s an ex-policeman.· Lydia is still friends with her ex-husband.
the person or thing that existed before the one you have just mentioned: · I didn’t enjoy Spielberg’s last film but I thought the one before was all right.· Each year, the convention is a little larger than the one before.
Longman Language Activatorsomeone or something that existed before or that you had before the previous person or thing is the one that existed just before now or before the time you are talking about: · The car's previous owner didn't take very good care of it.· Please ignore my previous instructions.
the last thing or person is the one that you had just before now, or the one that existed just before now: · The last apartment we lived in was much smaller than this one.· Beth broke up with her last boyfriend because he drank too much.
: ex-wife/ex-boyfriend/ex-soldier etc someone who used to be someone's wife, used to be a soldier etc, but is not any more: · Her dad's an ex-policeman.· Lydia is still friends with her ex-husband.
: somebody's old job/car/girlfriend/boss etc the job, car etc that someone had before the one they have now: · The new stadium is much bigger than the old one.· I saw Phil with one of my old girlfriends.· We all liked the old teacher better.
the person or thing that existed before the one you have just mentioned: · I didn't enjoy Spielberg's last film but I thought the one before was all right.· Each year, the convention is a little larger than the one before.
formal use this especially to talk about someone who used to have a particular job or position but does not any more: · Her former husband now lives in Houston.· Weinberger was an advisor to former president Ronald Reagan.
formal someone's predecessor is the person who had the same job before them: · Vandenberg has been a more active director than his predecessor.· Sally's predecessor had warned her about Nick, one of the company vice-presidents.
formal someone whose ideas or style are later used by another more famous person, or an organization, movement or machine that later develops into one that is more important: precursor of/to: · The abacus was the precursor of the modern electronic calculator.· The Office of Strategic Services was the precursor of the CIA.
the first person, organization, machine etc that existed before the one that exists now and that the one that exists now is based on: forerunner of: · The P-50 is a forerunner of today's supersonic jet.· Hansen played in the American Basketball League, a forerunner of the NBA.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
Only 29% of lone parents receive financial support from their former partners. a Victorian fireplace restored to its former glory He threatened to kill his ex-wife’s boyfriend.
(=be much less confident, healthy, energetic etc than you used to be) The team’s a shadow of its former self.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The team’s a shadow of its former self.· The former champion suffered a bad defeat.
· The company is being sued by three former employees.
Only 29% of lone parents receive financial support from their former partners. a Victorian fireplace restored to its former glory He threatened to kill his ex-wife’s boyfriend.PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► be a shadow/ghost of your former self
1happening or existing before, but not now: - No rocks, to our knowledge, are untouched by life in former times.
- A man once famed for his intolerance, xenophobia and irrational rages has become a husk of his former self.
- However, such plans would have required Melanie to want to preserve her former self.
- Over the last few months he had become rather withdrawn and mistrustful; a subdued version of his former self.
- Sharpness docks is now a shadow of it's former self.
- Stark had taken me to a place where I could shed my former selves and start anew.
- The 1984 Geyserville was a shell of its former self.
- The trees were dusty and muscular; zealous visions of their former selves.
- There he was with his cigar, a shadow of his former self.
- Following years of heavy losses, the company is only a shadow of its former self.
the former Soviet Union Their farm has been reduced to half its former size.► see thesaurus at last2having a particular position in the past SYN ex-: my former husband former President Clinton3in former times/years in the past4somebody/something’s former self what someone or something was like before they were changed by age, illness, trouble etc: She seems more like her former self.be a shadow/ghost of your former self (=be much less confident, healthy, energetic etc than you used to be) The team’s a shadow of its former self.former1 adjectiveformer2 noun
formerformer2 noun EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- For the former, therefore, to return among the latter was not to degrade, but to promote them.
- Steven Soderbergh, nominated as best director for both Traffic and Erin Brockovich, won for the former.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Only 29% of lone parents receive financial support from their former partners. a Victorian fireplace restored to its former glory He threatened to kill his ex-wife’s boyfriend.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
· The former champion suffered a bad defeat.
· The company is being sued by three former employees.
Only 29% of lone parents receive financial support from their former partners. a Victorian fireplace restored to its former glory He threatened to kill his ex-wife’s boyfriend.· A former employee recalled Reynolds giving a $ 50, 000 Lincoln to his elderly father, who could not drive.· Kirkpatrick, a former employee, robbed the store of about $ 650.· Product liability At issue is a General Motors deal with a former employee to keep him from testifying against the company.
· A former member, Moya Dodd, puts it simply: money and fame.· Pete Wilson, a former member of the Senate.· But it was Mr Samaranch, 81, a former member of Franco's govern ment, who dominated proceedings.· To be successful, a former member must have served on an influential committee and acquired expertise on controversial issues.· Sutro, a former member of the Federal Trade Commission, which has ruled on antitrust issues.· She is a former member of the city Planning Commission.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► be a shadow/ghost of your former self
1the former formal the first of two people or things that you have just mentioned OPP the latter: - Of the two possibilities, the former seems more likely.
- Debbie is a sixth former at Abergele High School.
- Following years of heavy losses, the company is only a shadow of its former self.
Of the two possibilities, the former seems more likely.2first/second/sixth etc former British English used in some schools to show which class a student is in, according to how many years they have been in school