Definition of "former" in English

adjective

1. Previous.

   • A former president
   • the former East Germany

2. First of aforementioned two items. Used with the, often without a noun.

   • The former is a good idea but the latter is not.
   • We have two cars, a red one and a blue one. We won the former on a game show.
   • Bananas are tastier than parsnips, but the latter’s nutritional value is higher than the former’s.

noun

1. Someone who forms something; a maker; a creator or founder.

   • Dave was the former of the company.

2. An object used to form something, such as a template, gauge, or cutting die.

   • The brick arch was built using a wooden former.

3. (chiefly British, used in combinations) Someone in, or of, a certain form (class).

   • Fifth-former.
   • Sixth-former.