Looking up...
a person who previously held the office of president
Barack Obama is a former president of the United States.
Barack Obama previously served as the president of the United States.
The former president attended the conference via video call.
The person who previously held the presidency joined the conference remotely.
Used to refer to a president who is no longer in office. The term emphasizes the past role rather than the current status.
Use 'former president' to describe someone who no longer holds the presidency. Example: 'The former president criticized the new administration's policies.'
Capitalize 'Former President' only when used as a title before a name (e.g., 'Former President Jimmy Carter'). Otherwise, use lowercase (e.g., 'a former president').
The phrase combines 'former' (from Old English 'forma', meaning 'first in time') and 'president' (from Latin 'praesidere', meaning 'to preside over'). The term emerged in the 18th century with the establishment of presidential systems.
Always used attributively (before a noun) in modern English. Avoid using it as a standalone title unless referring to a specific individual in context (e.g., 'Former President Obama').