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

The former blooms every 2-5 years for a week, and the latter produces a flower every year that blooms for a day. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026

While both events are disappointing, the latter is catastrophic. —Joe Murphy, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026

The two platforms have exploded in popularity over the past year, as prediction markets have become popular among people looking to wager on everything from news and pop culture events to sports, the latter of which has led to a major boom for the markets. —Gary Grumbach, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2026

At the same time, though, Steinberg understands supply and demand, and the latter is through the roof for the NFL. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026

Rhymes for the latter

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