# former

/ˈfɔɹmɝ/ (US) · /fˈɔːmɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/former
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. previous

adjective · CEFR B1

having a particular position or status in the past.

For teachers: denoting a person or thing that previously held a specified role or status. Usually used before a noun.

- The former president of the company still attends the annual holiday party.
- The former prime minister remains an influential figure within the party, frequently advising the current leadership on foreign policy matters.

### 2. the first of two

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

the first of two people or things that you have just mentioned.

For teachers: referring to the first of two mentioned items or people; typically preceded by 'the' and often functions as a pronoun.

- He offered me a choice between a refund or a replacement, and I chose the former.
- The report discussed both economic growth and social equity, arguing that the former cannot be sustained without the presence of the latter.

### 3. a creator

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

a person who makes or creates something.

For teachers: an agent who shapes, molds, or creates a specific object or concept.

- He was known as a former of public opinion during the early years of the revolution.
- As a former of young minds, the professor took his responsibility toward ethical instruction as seriously as his academic research.

### 4. a student in a specific year

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a student in a particular year or class at school.

For teachers: a student belonging to a specific 'form' or year group within the British secondary education system.

- The sixth-formers are currently preparing for their final university entrance exams.
- The headmaster addressed the first-formers on their very first day, welcoming them to the traditions of the boarding school.

### 5. a shaping tool

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a tool or shape used to help make something else.

For teachers: a structural component, template, or tool used to provide shape or support during a manufacturing process.

- The carpenter used a wooden former to create the curved arch for the doorway.
- The aerospace engineers designed a lightweight composite former to maintain the aerodynamic profile of the wing during assembly.

## Examples

- He offered tea or coffee, and I chose the former.
- The report compared solar and wind power, concluding that the former is more reliable in this specific region.
- When choosing between a career in law and one in music, she eventually opted for the former, citing the stability of a legal practice over the uncertainty of the arts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.