American English pronunciation

How to pronounce former

IPA transcription: ['fɔɹmɚ]

Pronunciation variants: ['fɔɹmɚ]['fɚmɚ]

Hear “former” pronounced

['fɚmɚ]

Quality: 0.93

['fɚmɚ]

Quality: 0.93

['fɚmɚ]

Quality: 0.91

Noun

  • the first of two or the first mentioned of two

    “Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the former is remembered today”

Adjective

  • referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)

    “the novel was made into a film in 1943 and again in 1967; I prefer the former version to the latter one”

Adjective

  • belonging to some prior time

    “erstwhile friend”

    “our former glory”

    “the once capital of the state”

    “her quondam lover”

  • (used especially of persons) of the immediate past

    “the former president”

    “our late President is still very active”

    “the previous occupant of the White House”

  • belonging to the distant past

    “the early inhabitants of Europe”

    “former generations”

    “in other times”

Usage examples

  • The race was formerly staged during Newmarket's Champions' Day meeting in mid-October.
  • Urusemal is married to former First Lady Olania Latileilam, who is from Satawal.
  • Babbitt is also a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One.
  • He is a frequent performer at science fiction and gaming conventions.
  • She is also a former chair of the Midwestern Governors Association.
  • The mouth of the Almond at Cramond formerly had a small passenger ferry.
  • Chang's former space.
  • Harrell is a former chairman of the American Dental Association Council on Governmental Affairs.
  • Bangor is located near the former resort community of Blount Springs.
  • It was founded by former co-directors Roger Fouts and Deborah Fouts.