Origin: Latin suffix -ous
Previous has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
An existing criminal record (short for "previous convictions")
"The judge asked if he had any previous before making his sentencing decision."
In plain English: A previous is an old thing from before now that you no longer have or use.
"The previous match was the first time they had met in person."
Usage: Use "previous" only as an adjective to describe something that came before, not as a standalone noun. When referring to a criminal history, say "a previous conviction" or simply "prior convictions," rather than calling it "his previous."
Prior; occurring before something else, either in time or order.
"The previous meeting was scheduled for next week instead of today."
In plain English: Previous means something that happened before the current time or event.
"The previous owner had installed new windows in the house."
Usage: Use "previous" to describe something that happened immediately before another event or item in a sequence. It is the standard choice for referring to the most recent past occurrence, such as your previous job or last week's meeting.
The word comes from the Latin praevius, which originally meant "leading the way." It entered English to describe something that happens or exists before the current time.