latter

[ lat-er ]

/ ˈlæt ər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR latter ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

being the second mentioned of two (distinguished from former): I prefer the latter offer to the former one.

more advanced in time; later: in these latter days of human progress.

near or comparatively near to the end: the latter part of the century.

Obsolete. last¹; final.

Nearby words

latrodectus, latrorse, lats, latte, latten, latter, latter-day, latter-day saint, latter-day saints, latter-day saints, church of jesus christ of, latterly

Origin of latter

before 1000; Middle English latt(e)re, Old English lætra, comparative of læt late

Can be confused

former later latterladder latter

Definition for latter (2 of 2)

late

[ leyt ]

/ leɪt /

adjective, lat·er or lat·ter, lat·est or last.

occurring, coming, or being after the usual or proper time: late frosts; a late spring.

continued until after the usual time or hour; protracted: a late business meeting.

near or at the end of day or well into the night: a late hour.

belonging to the time just before the present moment; most recent: a late news bulletin.

immediately preceding the present one; former: the late attorney general.

recently deceased: the late Mr. Phipps.

occurring at an advanced stage in life: a late marriage.

belonging to an advanced period or stage in the history or development of something: the late phase of feudalism.

adverb, lat·er, lat·est.

after the usual or proper time, or after delay: to arrive late.

until after the usual time or hour; until an advanced hour, especially of the night: to work late.

at or to an advanced time, period, or stage: The flowers keep their blossoms late in warm climates.

recently but no longer: a man late of Chicago, now living in Philadelphia.

Origin of late

before 900; Middle English; Old English læt slow, late; cognate with German lass slothful, Old Norse latr, Gothic lats slow, lazy, Latin lassus tired

SYNONYMS FOR late

1 tardy; slow, dilatory; delayed, belated.

4 See modern.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR late ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

late·ness, nouno·ver·late, adjectiveo·ver·late·ness, noun

Can be confused

former later latter

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for latter

That latter fear crossed my mind more than once during the evening.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for Shots|Emily Shire|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In both of these latter cases, their eyes show more focus than fun, like tonight is a job.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for Shots|Emily Shire|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The former is controlled by the Palestinian Authority, the latter by the government of Israel.
Inside Hebron, Israel’s Heart of Darkness|Michael Tomasky|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The former believed in the role of the state as a provider, while the latter favored an iron fist approach to governance.
How WWI Produced the Holocaust|J.P. O’Malley|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The trouble was, he alienated Pope Pius VI and Pius VII—the latter he actually arrested.
Napoleon Was a Dynamite Dictator|J.P. O’Malley|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The latter would sometimes exclaim, before the agents and the heirs were fairly out of hearing, "I can't understand the thing!"
Ursula|Honore de Balzac
Gehenna was created before Paradise; the former on the second day and the latter on the third.
Hebraic Literature; Translations from the Talmud, Midrashim and Kabbala|Various
The latter are very much shocked at the want of propriety in the management of the English.
Pencillings by the Way|N. Parker Willis
The latter had been reading a new publication, which she laid down at the voice of the butler announcing a visitor.
Newton Forster|Captain Frederick Marryat
In the latter part of winter, my only cow sickened and died, a loss which we seriously felt.
Biography and Family Record of Lorenzo Snow|Eliza R. Snow Smith

British Dictionary definitions for latter (1 of 2)

latter

/ (ˈlætə) /

adjective (prenominal)

denoting the second or second mentioned of two: distinguished from former
(as noun; functioning as sing or plural)the latter is not important

near or nearer the endthe latter part of a film

more advanced in time or sequence; later

usage

The latter should only be used to refer to the second of two items: many people choose to go by hovercraft rather than use the ferry, but I prefer the latter. The last of three or more items can be referred to as the last-named

British Dictionary definitions for latter (2 of 2)

late

/ (leɪt) /

adjective

occurring or arriving after the correct or expected timethe train was late

(prenominal) occurring, scheduled for, or being at a relatively advanced timea late marriage

(prenominal) towards or near the endthe late evening

at an advanced time in the evening or at nightit was late

(prenominal) occurring or being just previous to the present timehis late remarks on industry

(prenominal) having died, esp recentlymy late grandfather

(prenominal) just preceding the present or existing person or thing; formerthe late manager of this firm

of late recently; lately

adverb

after the correct or expected timehe arrived late

at a relatively advanced ageshe married late

recently; latelyas late as yesterday he was selling books

late hours rising and going to bed later than is usual

late in the day

at a late or advanced stage
too late

Derived Forms

lateness, noun

Word Origin for late

Old English læt; related to Old Norse latr, Gothic lats

usage

Since late can mean deceased, many people think it is better to avoid using this word to refer to the person who held a post or position before its present holder: the previous (not the late) editor of The Times

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with latter

late

In addition to the idioms beginning with late

late in life
late in the day

also see:

at the latest
better late than never
Johnny-come-lately
keep late hours
of late
the latest
too little, too late

Also see underlater.

latter

adjective

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of latter

Can be confused

Definition for latter (2 of 2)

late

adjective, lat·er or lat·ter, lat·est or last.

adverb, lat·er, lat·est.

Origin of late

SYNONYMS FOR late

Related forms

Can be confused

Examples from the Web for latter

British Dictionary definitions for latter (1 of 2)

latter

adjective (prenominal)

usage

British Dictionary definitions for latter (2 of 2)

late

adjective

adverb

Derived Forms

Word Origin for late

usage

Idioms and Phrases with latter

late