Definition of former

• the first of two or the first mentioned of two; "Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the former is remembered today"
• 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"; "our former glory"; "the once capital of the state"; "her quondam lover"