former

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "former" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to someone or something that previously held a particular position or status. Example: "The former president of the company has decided to retire after many years of service."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The rules do allow, however, for former employees collecting retirement benefits to serve as independent directors.

The New York Times

One former Alton Towers employee explained that the Smiler could have up to five cars moving around the track at once and a "block system" run by sensors prevented two cars entering specific sections at the same time.

The Guardian

Margaret Hodge, a former Labour minister and chair of the Commons public accounts committee, also defended the policy, arguing consumers are suffering too much from high prices.

The Guardian - Money

It is understood that Ed Miliband regrets the suggestion was made and does not want the policy dispute between him and the former business secretary to include such allegations.

The Guardian - Money

Another former staff member said: "The block system should have been clear before another craft is able to enter that section of the ride.

The Guardian

The alleged warning from Obeid would have came before – as Icac was previously told – a member of the former NSW energy minister Chris Hartcher's staff made an anonymous complaint levelling false allegations of corruption against Schott.

The Guardian

Carr, who served as NSW premier for 10 years, entered the Senate and became foreign minister at the request of former prime minister Julia Gillard in March 2012, when Kevin Rudd returned to the backbench after losing a leadership challenge.

The Guardian

The former European trade commissioner said: "For far too long, those who want to destroy Britain's interests and influence in Europe have been allowed to get away with murder with the lies and false propaganda they have poured out about the European Union and what it represents for our country.

The Guardian

It has the second largest oil reserves among the former Soviet republics after Russia, and its oil exports are expected to soar as its huge Kashagan oil field, in the Caspian Sea, develops.

The Guardian

"If we're running a race against their most articulate guy," Steve Schmidt, John McCain's former campaign manager, told me, referring to President Obama, "we should put our most articulate guy.

The Economist

"Only one car at a time is permitted in each block and, at the end of each, there is a section where a train can be stopped if it needs to be," the former worker said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "former", ensure the context clearly establishes what the person or thing was previously. For example, "the former employee" is clear if the employer is already known.

Common error

Avoid using "former" when it's unclear what the subject was previously. For example, instead of saying "the former," specify "the former option" or "the former policy" to provide clarity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "former" is as an adjective, modifying a noun to indicate a previous state, position, or time. As Ludwig indicates, this use is grammatically correct and frequent. Examples from Ludwig show it modifying nouns like "president", "employee", and "minister".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "former" functions primarily as an adjective to denote a previous state or position. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage, particularly in news and media. While synonyms like "previous" and "ex-" exist, "former" provides a generally neutral and clear way to indicate a past status. When using "former", ensure clarity by specifying the previous role or context. It is very important to use "former" when we want to be less specific in relation to what was before, or at least when such a subject isn't the core of the message we are conveying. Therefore, if we are describing such a subject in detail it would be better to be very precise with the alternative words used and give extra information that further defines it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Previous

Indicates something that came before, similar to "former" in denoting a past state or position.

Ex-

A shorter, often informal way to say "former", used to indicate a past relationship or role.

Past

Similar to "former", but can also refer to a more distant time.

Erstwhile

A more formal and somewhat archaic synonym for "former".

Late

Used to describe someone who recently held a position, especially after they have died or left.

Sometime

Indicates that someone held a position at some time in the past, without specifying exactly when.

One-time

Similar to "sometime", emphasizing a single occurrence in the past.

Preceding

Refers to something that comes immediately before something else in a sequence.

Prior

Indicates something that existed or happened before, often in a more formal context.

Quondam

A somewhat archaic and literary synonym for "former".

FAQs

How to use "former" in a sentence?

The word "former" is used to indicate that someone or something previously held a particular position or status. For example, "The "former president" addressed the crowd" or "In comparing the two options, the "former is" more viable than the latter".

What can I say instead of "former"?

You can use alternatives like "previous", "ex-", or "erstwhile" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "former employee" or "ex employee"?

Both "former employee" and "ex employee" are generally acceptable, but "former employee" is often considered more formal and professional. "Ex employee" is more informal but widely understood.

What's the difference between "former" and "latter"?

"Former" refers to the first of two things mentioned, while "latter" refers to the second. For example, "I enjoy both tea and coffee; the "former" in the morning, and the "latter" in the afternoon".