adjective
adjective
noun
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no later than the time specified
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informal the most recent fashion or development
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.
Energy inventories are rapidly shrinking, with U.S. crude stocks down 16 million barrels in the latest week, indicating continued near-term tightness.
From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026
The latest campaign is a $90 million Bloomberg Philanthropies effort launching this week focused on helping more high-school students land jobs in the trades.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
The director was accompanied by actor Colman Domingo, who stars in his latest film, Disclosure Day.
From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026
On one level, the video is simply the latest example of increasingly sophisticated AI-generated political content.
From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026
“Forty-seven,” she announced at the top of her latest hop.
From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el
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.
