former

noun

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

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

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

adjective

Previous.

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

Roots

formaform- · Latin · shape, form

Synonyms for former

quondamadj onetimeadj erstwhileadj oldadj previousadj whilom forenamedn earlieradv bygoneadj pastadj oldenadj recentadj departedn senioradj

Synonyms & related words for former

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of former — including quondam, onetime, erstwhile, old, previous, whilom. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to former

Explore words related to former — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include ex, formerly, longtime, erewhile, foretime, predecessor, fellow, retired. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for former

Common synonyms for former include quondam, onetime, erstwhile, old, previous, whilom, forenamed, earlier — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does former come from?

The word former breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root form-, from Latin forma (“shape, form”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.