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
Streetwear and high fashion were then only beginning to intersect, often to the greater benefit of the latter; many people in the industry believed that urban aesthetics were being appropriated by European fashion houses.
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Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025
Importantly, Miller says monkey barring is fundamentally different from polyamory — while the latter refers to loving multiple people at once and requires the consent of everyone involved, the former is arguably a form of infidelity.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
The former is the owner of a New York City hotspot; the latter is a man on the run from loan sharks, with heaps of personal issues and bad debts hounding him.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Former Tonight Show host Jay Leno has added his voice to those supporting Jimmy Kimmel following the latter’s indefinite suspension by ABC.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the latter
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Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025
Importantly, Miller says monkey barring is fundamentally different from polyamory — while the latter refers to loving multiple people at once and requires the consent of everyone involved, the former is arguably a form of infidelity.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
The former is the owner of a New York City hotspot; the latter is a man on the run from loan sharks, with heaps of personal issues and bad debts hounding him.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Former Tonight Show host Jay Leno has added his voice to those supporting Jimmy Kimmel following the latter’s indefinite suspension by ABC.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 19 Sep. 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 21 Sep. 2025.
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