Dictionary definition · former
noun
- the first of two or the first mentioned of two"Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the former is remembered today"
adjective
- 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"
- belonging to some prior time"erstwhile friend"
- (used especially of persons) of the immediate past"the former president"
- belonging to the distant past"the early inhabitants of Europe"
Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).