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

Commercial real estate, while soft, continues to be under control as do credit card losses, the latter really important because Wells is expanding it nicely. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 14 July 2024

The former consisted of the poorest possible cuts of meat, so spoiled as to be almost inedible, while the latter was coarse and full of weevils. —Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2024

Oregon has two 988 call centers, Lines for Life and Northwest Human Services, with the latter only handling calls for Marion and Polk counties in the Salem area. —Meira Gebel, Axios, 12 July 2024

After the release of Descendants: The Rise of Red, Baker already has a number of projects lined up, including Harvest Moon with Paul Bettany, Spider & Jessie alongside Mckenna Grace and Dacre Montgomery and Hair of the Bear, the latter of which she executive produced. —Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 11 July 2024