formerly

adverb

for·​mer·​ly ˈfȯr-mər-lē How to pronounce formerly (audio)
ˈfȯr-mə-
1
: at an earlier time : previously
2
obsolete : just before

Examples of formerly in a Sentence

He was formerly a congressman. the newspaper formerly known as “The Newsprint”
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ye, the rapper and fashion mogul formerly known as Kanye West, ignited a firestorm of criticism over the weekend after posting a series of controversial messages on X (formerly Twitter). Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 5 May 2025 The latest claim was leveled by Adam Schleifer, formerly an assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, in a filing last week with the Merit Systems Protection Board, which handles wrongful termination appeals from federal workers. Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2025 Beverly Hills Estate Having already owned a couple of homes in L.A., in September 2015, Swift set her sights on a storied slice of Hollywood history: an 11,000-square-foot Georgian Revival estate in Beverly Hills formerly owned by legendary film producer Samuel Goldwyn. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 2 May 2025 Everyone is there, including Bobby’s formerly estranged mother, and there’s not a dry eye in the house. Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for formerly

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of formerly was in 1534

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Formerly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formerly. Accessed 13 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

formerly

adverb
for·​mer·​ly ˈfȯr-mər-lē How to pronounce formerly (audio)
: at an earlier time : previously

More from Merriam-Webster on formerly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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