former home

/ˈfɔːrmər hoʊm/
previous residence

They visited their former home after years of living abroad.

They went back to the house where they used to live before moving away.


neutral

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.

Collocations

former home towna town where someone previously livedreturn to former homego back to a place where one used to livesell former homesell a house where one no longer lives

Related Phrases

childhood homephrase
a home where one grew up
homecomingnoun
a return to one's home or birthplace

Pro Tip

Contextual Clarity

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.'

Gold Rule

Tense and Ownership

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.

Word Origin

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.

Usage Notes

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.

Word Breakdown

former
previous in time or order
adjective
+
home
a place where one lives
noun
English Dictionary