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
Bernard took over for Edmunds after the latter left as a free agent in 2023.
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Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 11 July 2025
In the latter part of the beloved singer’s life, he was seen dining almost nightly at the Beverly Hills restaurant La Famiglia, often sitting alone — a far cry from his Rat Pack days, when he was happily surrounded by friends and fans.
—Mark Gray, People.com, 11 July 2025
But continuing to sporadically drive the news cycle won’t alone confer the popularity needed to make the latter work.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
The collection is the result of a partnership between Piece of Magic Entertainment and Vue Lumière following the latter’s acquisition of rights from BBC Studios.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for the latter
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Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 11 July 2025
In the latter part of the beloved singer’s life, he was seen dining almost nightly at the Beverly Hills restaurant La Famiglia, often sitting alone — a far cry from his Rat Pack days, when he was happily surrounded by friends and fans.
—Mark Gray, People.com, 11 July 2025
But continuing to sporadically drive the news cycle won’t alone confer the popularity needed to make the latter work.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
The collection is the result of a partnership between Piece of Magic Entertainment and Vue Lumière following the latter’s acquisition of rights from BBC Studios.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for the latter
Cite this Entry
“The latter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20latter. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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