WordWeb Online

1. 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"
    
2. Belonging to some prior time
   "our former glory";
   - erstwhile, old, onetime, one-time, quondam, sometime
    
3. (used especially of persons) of the immediate past
   "the former president";
   - late, previous
    
4. Belonging to the distant past
   "former generations";
   - early, other

1. The first of two or the first mentioned of two
   "Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the former is remembered today"

Derived forms: formers

See also: past

Type of: first, number one [informal]

Antonym: latter

Encyclopedia: Former