previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance.
a child from a previous marriage
a prior obligation
former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter.
the former name of the company
anterior applies to position before or ahead of usually in space, sometimes in time or order.
the anterior lobe of the brain
Example Sentences
Adjective the coach is a former professional baseball player the former manual had some errors, but the current version has its own problems
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The Starbucks Medicine Ball is a favorite beverage of many Starbucks drinkers, including Rachel Weber, former digital editorial director at Better Homes & Gardens. Jennifer Aldrich, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Sep. 2022 Frost, who grew up 90 minutes west of Lincoln in Wood River, was hailed as a savior of the program when former athletic director Bill Moos signed him to a seven-year, $35 million contract. Eric Olson, ajc, 11 Sep. 2022 The former public-school band director was nearing the end of his life because of Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia, and Covid-19 hastened his death, his son Peter Spicer said. Jon Kamp, WSJ, 11 Sep. 2022 Guida, the former Firearms Records Bureau director, said the lack of enforcement over time has sent a clear message to gun dealers. Andrew Brinker, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2022 The 108-page lawsuit, filed in March, claimed that Clinton, former FBI Director James Comey and other top Clinton and FBI officials schemed together to accuse Trump of colluding with Russia to win the 2016 election. Ella Lee, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2022 Andrés Arauz doesn’t fit the bill of a typical former central bank director. Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2022 The former Utah Public Health Laboratory Director, raised concerns early in the coronavirus pandemic about problems with COVID-19 tests by Nomi Health and Co-Diagnostics.USA Today, 8 Sep. 2022 The Cleveland Cavaliers are making minor changes to their coaching staff this coming season, with former director of player development Mike Gerrity being named head coach of the Cleveland Charge -- the organization’s G League affiliate. Chris Fedor, cleveland, 8 Sep. 2022
Noun
In April, the USA TODAY Network exposed links to two Georgia Department of Labor officials – one then current, the other former – who had been charged with protecting migrant farmworkers. Maria Perez, USA TODAY, 21 July 2022 The former made a surprise appearance supporting his cousin during the last moments of the show, where the two artists rapped along to some of Baby Keem’s songs. Uvie Bikomo, Rolling Stone, 28 June 2022 The former comes with six Xe-cores and six ray-tracing units. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 30 Mar. 2022 If Anything Happens — the former follows a gay Afghan refugee’s journey to Europe as a teenager and the latter is about parents grieving the loss of a child killed in a school shooting — were not the easiest sales to publishers. Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Mar. 2022 It's been a close race between Kodi Smit-McPhee and Troy Kotsur, and more branch-hopping support for Dog versus CODA was thought to work in the former's favor at one point. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2022 The former seemed to rise up for a floater, but instead pushed a lob to the center, who threw it down. Eric Walden, The Salt Lake Tribune, 12 Feb. 2022 Meanwhile, Maluma and Kardashian's ex Scott Disick started a fake argument over Twitter to promote the former's latest music video. Heran Mamo, Billboard, 9 July 2021 The former comes with 256 gigabytes of storage while the latter has 512 gigabytes, but both are foldable and include a full HD display. Nina Huang, PEOPLE.com, 22 June 2021 See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from forme first, from Old English forma — more at foremost