Synonyms of former

former

adjective

ˈfȯr-mər 

1

as in erstwhile

having been such at some previous time

the coach is a former professional baseball player

Synonyms & Similar Words

• erstwhile
• old
• other
• late
• past
• defunct
• onetime
• once
• sometime
• whilom
• quondam
• departed
• bygone
• vanished
• long-ago
• expired
• extinct
• gone
• dead

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• current
• present
• contemporary
• ongoing
• future
• prospective
• present-day
• extant
• coming
• unborn

2

as in previous

going before another in time or order

the former manual had some errors, but the current version has its own problems

Synonyms & Similar Words

• previous
• earliest
• early
• preceding
• precedent
• prior
• anterior
• initial
• original
• antecedent
• foregoing
• first
• pioneer
• erstwhile
• premature
• introductory
• advance
• preliminary
• preexisting
• inaugural
• maiden
• whilom

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• subsequent
• following
• later
• posterior
• after
• succeeding
• ensuing
• latter
• late
• last
• advanced
• final
• latest
• ultimate
• terminal
• concluding
• closing

Synonym Chooser

How is the word former distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of former are antecedent, anterior, foregoing, preceding, previous, and prior. While all these words mean "being before," former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter.

the former name of the company

When would antecedent be a good substitute for former?

The synonyms antecedent and former are sometimes interchangeable, but antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation.

conditions antecedent to the revolution

When could anterior be used to replace former?

The meanings of anterior and former largely overlap; however, anterior applies to position before or ahead of usually in space, sometimes in time or order.

the anterior lobe of the brain

When is foregoing a more appropriate choice than former?

The words foregoing and former are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, foregoing applies chiefly to statements.

the foregoing remarks

When can preceding be used instead of former?

While the synonyms preceding and former are close in meaning, preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place.

the preceding sentence

How do previous and prior relate to one another, in the sense of former?

Both previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance.

a child from a previous marriage

a prior obligation

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of former

Earlier on Thursday, Judge Sid Harle sided with defense lawyers and instructed jurors to completely disregard the testimony of former teacher Stephanie Hale, who was a key prosecution witness. —Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 8 Jan. 2026

The extradition of Venezuela’s former strongman to the United States marks a turning point not only for Venezuela, but for the international rule of law. —Duncan S. Demarsh, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026

Pyne, a former NASCAR COO and ex-president of IMG, founded Bruin Capital in 2015, one of the first PE firms to focus solely on sports. —Luisa Beltran, Sportico.com, 8 Jan. 2026

Having blurted out my enthusiasm for all things James Joyce (hardly original among visitors to Dublin), I was promptly steered in the direction of PJ Murphy, proprietor and presiding genius of Sweny’s, a former pharmacy on Lombard Street, not far from the hotel. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026