the latter

noun

1

: the second one of two things or people that have been mentioned

Of these two options, the former is less expensive, while the latter is less risky.

2

: the last thing or person mentioned

Of chicken, fish, and meat, I like the latter best.

3

: the thing or person that has just been mentioned

The President—or, if the latter is too busy, the Vice President—will see you shortly.

Examples of the latter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Wells Fargo favored Walmart over Costco , increasing its price target on the former to $130 from $120 and cutting the latter to $900 from $1,000. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2025

Right now, investors have broken ranks with the PMI, with the former being much more positive about the future than the latter. —Jim Edwards, Fortune, 19 Dec. 2025

Startlingly, the latter were given top billing and paid more. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2025

Nick Suplina, senior vice president for law and policy at Everytown for Gun Safety, said industry marketing shifted in the latter half of the 20th century as the popularity of hunting declined. —Fred Clasen-Kelly, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025

Rhymes for the latter

• backscatter
• antimatter
• atter
• batter
• blatter
• catarrh
• chatter
• clatter
• fatter
• flatter
• hatter
• matter