former state
What once was
Former state refers to a political entity that once existed but no longer does—a nation, kingdom, or territory that has dissolved, been absorbed, or transformed into something else: the former Soviet Union, the former state of Prussia.
The phrase also describes a previous condition or situation: The garden had fallen far from its former state of beauty.
In this broader sense, former state can apply to anything that has changed significantly from what it was.
- previousOccurring before another
- pastTime already gone
- bygoneOf earlier times
- erstwhilePreviously but not now
- exPrevious romantic partner
once · prior · old · ancient · dissolved · collapsed · fallen empire · fallen · extinct · vanished · abolished · defunct · republic · empire · kingdom · territory · sovereignty · independence