# former

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈfɔɹmɚ/ · frequency rank #528

## Definitions
1. Previous.
2. First of aforementioned two items. Used with the, often without a noun.

## Etymology
Inherited from Middle English former, comparative of forme (“first”), from Old English forma (“first”), descended from Proto-Germanic *frumô. Parallel to prior (via Latin), as comparative form from same Proto-Indo-European root. Related to first and fore (thence before), from Proto-Germanic.

## Easily confused with
- **forms** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/former-vs-forms)
- **forte** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/former-vs-forte)
- **foyer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/former-vs-foyer)
- **freer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/former-vs-freer)
- **fryer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/former-vs-fryer)
- **foster** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/former-vs-foster)
- **fowler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/former-vs-fowler)
- **Forster** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/former-vs-forster)
- **Fourier** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/former-vs-fourier)
- **formerly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/former-vs-formerly)
- **form** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/form-vs-former)
- **force** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/force-vs-former)
- **forge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/forge-vs-former)
- **forex** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/forex-vs-former)
- **forget** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/forget-vs-former)
- **forces** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/forces-vs-former)
- **forced** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/forced-vs-former)
- **formed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/formed-vs-former)
- **format** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/format-vs-former)
- **formal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/formal-vs-former)

## Common misspellings (9)
`fformer`, `fomrer`, `foremr`, `formerr`, `formmer`, `formre`, `forrmer`, `fromer`, `ofrmer`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/former