Former - definition of former by The Free Dictionary former ( ˈfɔːmə) adj ( prenominal) 1. belonging to or occurring in an earlier time: former glory. 2. having been at a previous time: a former colleague. 3. denoting the first or first mentioned of two: in the former case. 4. near the beginning n the former the first or first mentioned of two: distinguished from latter former ( ˈfɔːmə) n