former

adjective73 collocationsAvg. frequency: 8.0
former president9.5
former prime minister9.4
former husband8.8
former wife8.8
former leader8.8
former governor8.7
former minister8.7
former senator8.7
former employee8.6
former mayor8.6
former boyfriend8.5
former girlfriend8.5
former employer8.5
former member8.5
former partner8.5
former chairman8.4
former owner8.4
former premier8.4
former chief executive8.3
former secretary8.3
former colleague8.3
former ambassador8.2
former executive8.2
former teacher8.2
former head8.1
former student8.1
former champion8.1

Refers to a person who previously held a championship title.

former Congressman8.0
former player8.0
former client8.0
former soldier8.0
former regime8.0
former deputy7.9
former smoker7.9
former republic7.9
former Congresswoman7.8
former diplomat7.8
former colony7.8
former home7.8
former lover7.5
former ruler7.5
former associate7.5
former state7.5
former slave7.4
former territory7.3
former rival7.2
former refugee7.2
former counsel7.1
former communist7.1
former ally7.0
former rebel7.0
former residence7.0
former self7.0

Refers to the way a person was in the past, often implying a change for the worse.

former councillor6.9
former mistress6.8
former inmate6.8
former prostitute6.7
former generation6.7
former foe6.5
former pupil6.5
former homeland6.5
former occupant6.3
former felon6.2
former time6.2

Often used in plural 'at former times'.

former inhabitant6.0
former day5.8

Often used in plural 'in former days'.

former greatness5.7
former barrister5.5
former grandeur5.5
former splendour5.4
former manor4.5
opinion former3.0

A person whose views influence others; an opinion leader. This usage is less common.