latter

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adjective lat·ter \ ˈla-tər \

Definition of latter

1 a :belonging to a subsequent time or period :more recent

the latter stages of growth

b :of or relating to the end

in their latter days

c :recent, present

affected by latter calamities

2 :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

See latter defined for English-language learners

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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 of latter from the Web

Khosrowshahi’s task is to prove that the former did not depend on the latter, and to lead an Uber that is both colossal and decent.

— derek thompson, The Atlantic, "Why Dara Khosrowshahi Is a Smart Choice to Lead Uber," 28 Aug. 2017
Linking a popular VA reform bill to the must-pass legislation likely would have only delayed the passage of the former and not expedited the passage of the latter.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "The Republicans Are Their Own Worst Enemies," 24 Aug. 2017
The latter carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

— jonathan drew, The Seattle Times, "Bergdahl chooses to have trial heard by judge and not jury," 21 Aug. 2017
The latter Burnham and Root structure is a highlight of many architectural history books.

— Naperville Sun, "Letters to the editor: Many views of old Nichols Library," 18 Aug. 2017
That latter trigger—of attempting to corral him—set in motion the past five tense days surrounding Charlottesville.

— abigail tracy, The Hive, "Donald Trump’s Implosion Cannot Be Controlled," 17 Aug. 2017
Vermes’ unwillingness to budge in a deal to acquire Nemeth — despite possessing plenty of allocation funds after the trade with Dwyer — suggests it’s most likely the latter.

— sam mcdowell, kansascity, "Krisztian Nemeth returning to MLS, but not with Sporting KC," 10 Aug. 2017
Examples include the association agreement with Ukraine and two simpler trade deals with Canada and Japan, the latter not yet concluded.

— The Economist, "The six flavours of Brexit," 22 July 2017
The latter, wielded by Europeans, has dominated the half millennium since that scrape on the beach.

— The Economist, "Living off the land," 20 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'latter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.