past vs former

[agamemnon]

Hi,
What is the difference between the two adjectives 'past' and 'former' as in:
past president
former president
a search in Google showed that many occurrences of 'past president 'are preceded by the adjective 'immediate': the immediate past president. is that a clue to the difference, if any, between the two adjectives?
thanks for your help

[Alan]

Hi,

There is little difference except perhaps that 'former' often suggests the one before the present one. 'Past' doesn't really have the same suggestion of the one before the present.

Alan
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[agamemnon]

Thank you Alan for your answer
Agamemnon