- 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:
Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler star in the latest DC Studios series on HBO, playing a pair of intergalactic detectives who work for the Green Lantern Corps.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
Ukraine's defence ministry said the latest attack meant that seven out of 10 of the largest Wildberries logistics centres had been "disabled".
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
This latest version improved on graphics quality, meaning scenes created with it had more photorealism than before.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
Two weeks after Hamas publicly signed on to the latest phase of the deal, Kushner, who is Trump's son-in-law and special envoy, flew to Egypt ahead of expected talks on Monday in Jerusalem.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
Even so, Madame Babushkinov insisted on dressing the family in expensive new clothes in the latest fashions, for she believed in “keeping up appearances,” as she put it.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
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.
