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

Pair your time in the pool with relaxing massages and facials, the former with organic oils scented with herbs and flowers from the island, and the latter with products from Rowse, the natural and cruelty-free cosmetics brand. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026

The mission also carries instruments from Egypt, Switzerland, Bahrain and Italy; the latter country’s instrument is a small laser retroreflector on the lander that can be used to precisely measure distances from orbiters to the lunar surface. — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026

Drafted to host the affar are actress Tatiana Luter and Marcello Foti, the latter of whom serves as director of Centro Sperimentale delle Arti Contemporanee and Head of Communications at CSC – International Student Film Festival. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026

And since then, the iconic Jackie Robinson and young gun Macklin Celebrini joined the club, the former taking longer than many baseball fans would’ve expected and the latter becoming the first hockey player not named Wayne Gretzky to join the club. — Larry Holder, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for the latter

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