- superlative of late.
adjective
adjective
noun
-
no later than the time specified
-
informal the most recent fashion or development
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of latest
A late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at late, -est 1
Explanation
Something that's the latest is the newest, most recent example of that thing. For example, some people always need to have the latest cellphone model, while you're perfectly happy with the one that came out three years ago. You can listen to a singer's latest single, or read a novelist's latest book — the ones most recently written and released. The adjective latest can also describe the very most fashionable thing, like the latest hairstyle or the latest men's suit design. "The latest" is also sometimes used to mean "the news," so you could say, "Hey, have you all heard the latest on the flood at school?"
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Most observers expect the ECB to keep its powder dry on Thursday and pause for now whilst it waits to see the outcome and duration of the latest fighting.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
"Kill supply management," Calgary journalist and writer Jen Gerson argued in a column, external published this month before Trump's latest tariff threats, calling it "anachronistic" and blaming it for driving up food prices in Canada.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Keep up to date with the latest for your area on the BBC Weather website or app.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Find insight on the Strait of Hormuz, weekly builds in U.S. crude oil and more in the latest Market Talks covering energy and utilities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
These examples of the latest in underwater discovery technology are not the only high-tech tools that will soon be available to all those seeking the evidence of the past from shipwrecks.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
Of course, that doesn’t stop either faction from being suckered in by Frank’s latests hoax at the end of the episode.
From Time ● Sep. 12, 2013
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
