latter

[ lat-er ]

adjective

1. being the second mentioned of two ( former ):

   I prefer the latter offer to the former one.

2. more advanced in time; later:

   It's a shame that famine still exists in these latter days of human progress.

3. near or comparatively near to the end:

   This style was commonly produced in the latter part of the century.

4. Obsolete. last; final.

noun

1. the lat·ter, the second mentioned of a set of two ( the former ):

   The only difference between the inexpensive digital watch and the expensive one is that the latter can also monitor your heartbeat.

latter

/ ˈlætə /

adjective

1. 1. denoting the second or second mentioned of two: distinguished from former
   2. ( as noun; functioning as sing or plural )

      the latter is not important

2. near or nearer the end

   the latter part of a film

3. more advanced in time or sequence; later

Usage

The latter should only be used to refer to the second of two items: many people choose to go by hovercraft rather than use the ferry, but I prefer the latter. The last of three or more items can be referred to as the last-named

Word History and Origins

Origin of latter¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English latt(e)re, Old English lætra, comparative of læt late

Example Sentences

The latter doesn’t sound bad at all, until you remember that Marc Andreessen is one of Trump’s tech-world advisers, and that one of his big things these days is threatening to prosecute government/university/business officials who apparently “coordinated” to “censor” Elon Musk’s X by pulling advertising.

From Slate

In July 2020, an alt-right group called the New Jersey European Heritage Association began tacking up posters in Pennsylvania warning that immigration would turn the first world into “the third”; the former was pictured as bucolic green hills, the latter as a smog-choked traffic jam.

From Salon

The latter could land them in the government’s crosshairs.

From Los Angeles Times

Dave Alvin, co-founder of the Blasters and the Knitters — the latter also featured Doe and Cervenka, among others — bands that were pillars of the L.A. cowpunk scene, said he caught an early Yoakam performance at the Palomino after wandering into the club randomly in search of a beer.

From Los Angeles Times

The latter shared a video of artwork with a Stake watermark.

From Slate

Related Words

• recent