Looking up...
a place where someone previously lived
The couple decided to sell their former home before buying a new one.
They sold the house they lived in before their current residence.
Tourists often revisit their former home towns to reconnect with memories.
People return to towns where they grew up or lived earlier in life.
Commonly used in real estate, personal narratives, and travel contexts to refer to a past residence.
Use 'former home' to clearly distinguish a past residence from the current one. For example, 'She kept in touch with neighbors from her former home.'
Always use 'former home' to refer to a residence that is no longer occupied. Do not use it for a home that is still lived in.
The phrase combines 'former' (from Old English 'forma', meaning 'first in time') and 'home' (from Old English 'hām', meaning 'dwelling, house'). The compound emerged in Middle English as a way to distinguish past dwellings from current ones.
Used in both casual and formal contexts, especially when discussing life changes, real estate transactions, or personal history. Avoid using it to refer to a home that is still occupied.