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

Some samples in the latter study had chemicals that should have required consumer warning labels under California’s Proposition 65. —Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026

In the latter years of the Roman Republic, landowners amassed unprecedented riches while plebeians floundered, spawning resentment that infected many corners of society. —Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026

Ski resorts closed for the latter half of the 2020 season, and even in the years to come, people were reluctant to mingle too rapidly with large crowds. —Sacbee.com, 28 Feb. 2026

Risso’s Marni received critical acclaim, but Marni struggled commercially during the latter part of his tenure, particularly amid a luxury slowdown that saw the aspirational consumer — on which Marni relied — pull back luxury spending. —Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2026

Rhymes for the latter

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