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

Shortstop Andruw Monasterio and catcher Connor Wong drew back-to-back one-out walks in the second; Eaton’s two-out RBI-single scored the former, but the latter was out at third on the throw from left-fielder and 2016 first overall pick Mickey Moniak. —Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 24 June 2026

No action is expected on the latter two yet. —Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026

The company is positioning Exceptionally Aged as an evolution of the latter. —David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

With the entire continent contested between France, Spain, Russia, and Great Britain, some thought the latter’s narrow strip of thirteen colonies might be safer in a kind of one-for-all-and-all-for-one proto-NATO. —Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026

Rhymes for the latter

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