How to say "previous" in Japanese

• 前ぜんJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun (prefix)The broadest of the two: it covers both 'last (i.e. immediately preceding)' — the previous page, stop, or attempt in a series — and 'previous/former' in the ex- sense, as with a former title or position.
  前ぜん学期がっきは成績せいせきがよかった。↗

  I had a good report last term.
• 従前じゅうぜんCommon
  no-adjectiveCovers 'previous; former' but not 'last (immediately preceding)': it refers to a previous state or condition — how things were before — so for the previous page or stop in a sequence, 前 is the word.
  もっとも重要じゅうような点てんは、エメットの理論りろんが物理学ぶつりがくの従前じゅうぜんの理論りろんと矛盾むじゅんしないということである。↗

  It is that Emmet's theory is compatible with previous theories in physics that is of most significance.

For the immediately preceding item in a series use 前, which also covers 'former/ex-'; 従前 likewise means 'previous/former' but speaks of a prior state of affairs, so it does not cover the 'last one' sense.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 前ぜんlast (i.e. immediately preceding)
• 従前じゅうぜんprevious
• 先せんformer
• 前広まえびろprevious
• 改めあらためformer (e.g. name)
• 一昔前ひとむかしまえlong ago
• 前出ぜんしゅつaforementioned
• 先出せんしゅつaforementioned
• この前このまえlast (Sunday, summer, etc.)
• 古ふるold
• 爾前にぜんprior
• 先さきprevious
• 前まえprevious (e.g. page)