latter

adjective

lat·ter ˈla-tər

Synonyms of latter next

: belonging to a subsequent time or period : more recent

the latter stages of growth

: of or relating to the end

in their latter days

: recent, present

affected by latter calamities

: of, relating to, or being the second of two groups or things or the last of several groups or things referred to

of ham and beef the latter meat is cheaper today

of ham and beef the latter is cheaper today

Did you know?

Can latter be used of more than two?

There is some controversy afoot regarding the use of latter, particularly regarding its use to refer to items in a series. Many commentators insist that latter can only be used of a series that consists of two:

We have a chicken entree and a vegetarian entree: do you prefer the former or the latter?

When presented with a series of three or more, they say, anyone wishing to highlight the last item in the series should use last and not latter:

We had soup, fish, and dessert, and the last was uninspiring.

But our evidence shows that latter is used to refer to the last in a series regardless of number:

After Ethel's action at Oxford, the ultimate sacrifice that symbolizes her self-discipline, the focus moves away to other members of her family for the latter third of the novel...
— Melissa Schaub, Studies in the Novel, Spring 2007

...I am getting crosser and snappier and sadder every minute straining and struggling to type and to read and to draw (the latter is the easiest).
— James Thurber, letter, 9 June 1939

...bee not over-power'd with policie, nor with enforcement of arguments, nor with the approach of Souldiers, and Troopers; the two first may seeme to perswade you, the latter may terrifie you into an everlasting undoing...
— A.L., To all the honest, wise, and grave-citizens of London, but more especially to all those that challenge an interest in the Common-Hall, 1648

This use is common enough that most modern dictionaries make mention of it in their definitions for latter—and indeed they should, since our evidence for this particular use is several hundred years old. Despite this evidence, however, there are still those who object to its use; if you are concerned about such things, use last to refer to the last item in a series of three or more.

Examples of latter in a Sentence

… a fundamental trade-off between capitalist prosperity and economic security. As a nation we have chosen to have less of the former in order to have more of the latter. —

David A. Stockman, Newsweek, 28 Apr. 1986

… though her bibliography includes Hecht, Snyder, and Daiches, she omits the latter's first name … —

DeLancey Ferguson, Modern Language Notes, February 1957

the latter stages of the process We'll go in the latter half of the year. In his latter years he became blind.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

In this latter group, a Listeria infection—also called listeriosis—can sometimes lead to miscarriages or stillbirth.2 In less serious cases, Listeria can cause intestinal illness, including vomiting and diarrhea. —

Julia Landwehr, Health, 5 Nov. 2024 Ahead of the upcoming November 2 episode, the show went meta and filmed one of these latter promos about the process of filming one of the former promos. —

Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2024 Those latter two details are particularly beneficial for folks with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. —

Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2024 That latter option is the norm with small, new satellites and older satellites that are dead and out of anyone’s control; sometimes, the latter are big enough that parts of them survive reentry. —

Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for latter