“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”
adjective
(used especially of persons) of the immediate past
“the former president”
adjective
belonging to the distant past
“the early inhabitants of Europe”
Around the World
Europe
🇩🇪German
ehemalig
der erste von zwei oder der zuerst genannte von zwei
🇫🇷French
ancien
le premier de deux ou le premier mentionné de deux
🇪🇸Spanish
anterior
el primero de dos o el primero mencionado de dos
🇮🇹Italian
ex
il primo dei due o il primo menzionato dei due
🇳🇱Dutch
voormalig
de eerste van twee of de eerstgenoemde van twee
🇵🇹Portuguese
antigo
o primeiro de dois ou o primeiro mencionado de dois
🇷🇺Russian
бывший
первый из двух или первый из двух упомянутых
India
🇮🇳Hindi
पूर्व
दो में से पहला या दो में से पहला उल्लेखित
🇧🇩Bengali
সাবেক
দুটির প্রথমটি বা দুটির প্রথম উল্লেখ করা হয়েছে
🇮🇳Tamil
முன்னாள்
இரண்டில் முதல் அல்லது இரண்டில் முதலில் குறிப்பிடப்பட்டவை
🇮🇳Telugu
మాజీ
రెండింటిలో మొదటిది లేదా రెండింటిలో మొదట ప్రస్తావించబడినది
🇮🇳Marathi
माजी
दोनपैकी पहिला किंवा दोनपैकी पहिला उल्लेख
🇮🇳Gujarati
ભૂતપૂર્વ
બેમાંથી પ્રથમ અથવા બેમાંથી પ્રથમ ઉલ્લેખિત
🇮🇳Kannada
ಹಿಂದಿನ
ಎರಡರಲ್ಲಿ ಮೊದಲನೆಯದು ಅಥವಾ ಎರಡರಲ್ಲಿ ಮೊದಲು ಉಲ್ಲೇಖಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ
🇮🇳Malayalam
മുൻ
രണ്ടിൽ ആദ്യത്തേത് അല്ലെങ്കിൽ രണ്ടിൽ ആദ്യം സൂചിപ്പിച്ചത്
🇮🇳Punjabi
ਸਾਬਕਾ
ਦੋ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾ ਜਾਂ ਦੋ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾ ਜ਼ਿਕਰ ਕੀਤਾ
🇵🇰Urdu
سابق
دو میں سے پہلا یا دو کا پہلا ذکر
East & Southeast Asia
🇨🇳Chinese
以前的
两个中的第一个或两个中第一个提到的
🇯🇵Japanese
前者
2 つのうち最初のもの、または 2 つのうち最初に言及されたもの
🇰🇷Korean
이전의
둘 중 첫 번째 또는 둘 중 처음 언급된 것
🇻🇳Vietnamese
trước
cái đầu tiên trong hai cái hoặc cái đầu tiên được đề cập trong hai cái
🇹🇭Thai
อดีต
คนแรกของสองคนหรือคนแรกที่กล่าวถึงสองคน
🇮🇩Indonesian
mantan
yang pertama dari dua atau yang pertama disebutkan dari dua
🇵🇭Filipino
dating
ang una sa dalawa o ang unang nabanggit sa dalawa
🇲🇾Malay
bekas
yang pertama daripada dua atau yang pertama disebut daripada dua
Middle East
🇸🇦Arabic
سابق
أول اثنين أو أول ذكر من اثنين
🇮🇷Persian
سابق
اول از دو یا اولین مورد ذکر شده از دو
🇹🇷Turkish
önceki
ikiden ilki veya ikiden ilk bahsedilen
🇮🇱Hebrew
לְשֶׁעָבַר
הראשון מבין שניים או הראשון מבין שניים
Test Yourself1 / 3
What is the primary definition of the word 'former'?
The primary meaning of 'former' is 'the first of two or the first mentioned of two'.
Which of the following sentences uses the word 'former' in a grammatically correct way?
Using 'former' in a noun/adjective form makes the first sentence correct.
In which domain is the word 'former' most likely to appear as standard vocabulary?
'former' is a standard word used primarily in general literature and formal communications.
Community Poll1 / 6
How often do you encounter the word 'former' in your daily reading?
Very Often
Occasionally
Rarely
Never
Do you find 'former' easy to spell?
Yes, very easy
Somewhat easy
A bit confusing
Extremely hard
In your opinion, does the word 'former' have a positive, neutral, or gloomy tone?
Positive
Neutral
Gloomy
Vibrant
Which age group is most likely to use 'former' in regular conversations?
Kids (3-12)
Teens (13-19)
Adults (20-60)
Seniors (60+)
How likely are you to use 'former' in a professional email?
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Not very likely
Never
Would you classify 'former' as formal, casual, or slang?
Formal
Casual
Slang
Archaic
Pick an option to see how others voted
This word is also in the Advanced book — want the full, immersive treatment (age meanings, culture, creative use, deeper Hindi & exercises)?
Open the Advanced entry →
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