adjective
adjective
noun
-
no later than the time specified
-
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.
The royal couple were welcomed to Belfast on their latest visit by John Walsh, chief executive of the city council.
From BBC • May 19, 2026
Inside, the gallery’s owner and curator, Sam Milgrom, is ready to reveal his latest exhibition.
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026
It it the latest carmaker on the continent to embrace more affordable EVs in the face of brutal competition from Chinese rivals looking to make inroads overseas.
From Barron's • May 19, 2026
At the end of last week, more than 90% of S&P 500 companies had filed their latest quarterly results.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
Seeking security in military superiority, they recruited ever larger armies and navies, piled up more and more of the latest new weapons, and built wider and stronger fortifications along their national borders.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
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.
