| Noun | 1. | former - the first of two or the first mentioned of two; "Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the former is remembered today"first, number one - the first or highest in an ordering or series; "He wanted to be the first" latter - the second of two or the second mentioned of two; "Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the latter is remembered today" | |
| Adj. | 1. | former - 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"latter - referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several); "in the latter case" | |
| 2. | former - belonging to some prior time; "erstwhile friend"; "our former glory"; "the once capital of the state"; "her quondam lover"past - earlier than the present time; no longer current; "time past"; "his youth is past"; "this past Thursday"; "the past year" | |
| 3. | former - (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late President is still very active"; "the previous occupant of the White House"past - earlier than the present time; no longer current; "time past"; "his youth is past"; "this past Thursday"; "the past year" | |
| 4. | former - of the distant past; "the early inhabitants of Europe"; "former generations"; "in other times"past - earlier than the present time; no longer current; "time past"; "his youth is past"; "this past Thursday"; "the past year" | |