latter

Also found in: Thesaurus, Legal, Acronyms, Idioms, Wikipedia.

lat·ter

(lăt′ər)

adj.

1. Being the second of two persons or things mentioned: Regarding captain and major, the latter rank is higher.

2. Near or nearer to the end: the latter part of the book.

3. Further advanced in time or sequence; later: a style that has been revived in latter times.

The second of two persons or things mentioned.

[Middle English, later, from Old English lætra; see lē- in Indo-European roots.]

lat′ter·ly adv.

latter

(ˈlætə)

adj (prenominal)

a. denoting the second or second mentioned of two: distinguished from former

b. (as noun; functioning as sing or plural): the latter is not important.

2. near or nearer the end: the latter part of a film.

3. 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

lat•ter

(ˈlæt ər)

adj.

1. being the second mentioned of two (disting. from former): the latter version of the story.

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

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

4. Obs. last; final.

[before 1000; Middle English latt(e)re, Old English lætra, comp. of læt late]

latter

– former

The latter should only be used to refer to the second of two things or people which have already been mentioned.

Given the choice between working for someone else and working for the family business, she'd prefer the latter.

You use the former to talk about the first of two things already mentioned.

These two firms are in direct competition, with the former trying to cut costs and increase profits.

If you are talking about three or more things or people, don't use 'the latter' or 'the former'. Use an expression with the last or the first.

The company has three branches, in Birmingham, Plymouth, and Greenock. The last of these will close next year.

If you are mentioning things for the first time, don't use 'the former' or 'the latter'. Use the first or the second.

There will be two matches next week. The first will be in Brighton, and the second in London.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	latter - the second of two or the second mentioned of two; "Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the latter is remembered today" second - following the first in an ordering or series; "he came in a close second" former - the first of two or the first mentioned of two; "Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the former is remembered today"
Adj.	1.	latter - referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several); "in the latter case" former - referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several); "the novel was made into a film in 1943 and again in 1967; I prefer the former version to the latter one"

latter

pronoun second, last, last-mentioned, second-mentioned He tracked down his cousin and uncle. The latter was sick.

adjective last, later, latest, ending, closing, final, concluding The latter part of the debate concentrated on abortion.
last earlier, former, previous, prior, preceding, foregoing, antecedent

latter

adjective

1. Of or relating to a terminative condition, stage, or point:

final, last, terminal, ultimate.

2. Next before the present one:

foregoing, last, preceding, previous.

Translations

الأخير

druhýposlední

senere

später

último

deuxième

késõbbi

síîari; seinni

secondo ultimo [di due]

paskiausiaipastarasis

pēdējais

drugi

sonsona yakın

后面的

latter

[ˈlætəʳ]

A. ADJ

1. (= last) → último
the latter part of the story → la última parte del relato
in the latter part of the century → hacia fines or finales del siglo

2. (of two) → segundo

B. N the latter (sing) → éste/ésta; (pl) → éstos/éstas
the former ... the latter → aquél ... éste ...

latter

[ˈlætə^r]

n
the latter → ce dernier(cette dernière)
He tracked down his cousin and uncle. The latter was sick → Il retrouva la trace de son cousin et de son oncle. Ce dernier était malade.
Men still outnumber women, though the latter are catching up → Les hommes sont toujours plus nombreux que les femmes, bien que ces dernières soient en train de refaire leur retard.
The latter is the more expensive of the two systems
BUT Ce dernier système est le plus coûteux des deux.
the former ..., the latter ... → le premier ..., le second ...
The former lives in the US, the latter in Australia → Le premier habite aux États-Unis, le second en Australie.

adj

[part, half] → dernier/ière
in the latter half of the 17th century → pendant la dernière moitié du XVIIe siècle

[category, version] → dernier/ière
I prefer the latter version to the former → Je préfère la dernière version à la précédente.

latter

adj

(= second of two) → letztere(r, s)

(= at the end) the latter part of the book/story is better → gegen Ende wird das Buch/die Geschichte besser; the latter half of the week/year/century → die zweite Hälfte der Woche/des Jahres/des Jahrhunderts; in the latter years → in den letzten Jahren; in his latter years → in späteren Jahren

n the latter → der/die/das/Letztere; (more than one) → die Letzteren pl; I don’t agree with the latter → ich bin mit Letzterem nicht einverstanden; of these two theories I prefer the latter → von diesen beiden Theorien ziehe ich (die) letztere vor

latter

[ˈlætəʳ]

1. n the latter → quest'ultimo/a
of the two, the latter is better → fra i due è meglio il secondo

2. adj

a. (later) → ultimo/a
the latter years of his life → gli ultimi anni della sua vita

b. (of two) the latter part of the story → la seconda or l'ultima parte della storia

latter

(ˈlӕtə) adjective

towards the end. the latter part of our holiday.

ˈlatterly adverb

1. recently; lately.

2. towards the end.

the latter

the second of two things etc mentioned. John and Mary arrived, the latter wearing a green wool dress.

to choose the second or latter (not later) of two alternatives.

latter

pron. éste, ésta; el, la más reciente, el más moderno, la más moderna.

References in classic literature ?

The latter, through the action of the battery, passes at its positive pole into the second receptacle.

View in context

OF the trinity of American authors whose births made the year 1819 a notable one in our literary history,--Lowell, Whitman, and Melville,--it is interesting to observe that the two latter were both descended, on the fathers' and mothers' sides respectively, from have families of British New England and Dutch New York extraction.

View in context

Wait, we will show our lights," and a moment later the smaller craft settled close beside the Kalksus, and the lights of the latter were immediately extinguished once more.

View in context

And there are other truths in the two latter sciences which, if they cannot pretend to rank in the class of axioms, are yet such direct inferences from them, and so obvious in themselves, and so agreeable to the natural and unsophisticated dictates of common-sense, that they challenge the assent of a sound and unbiased mind, with a degree of force and conviction almost equally irresistible.

View in context

The prince's expression was so good-natured at this moment, and so entirely free from even a suspicion of unpleasant feeling was the smile with which he looked at the general as he spoke, that the latter suddenly paused, and appeared to gaze at his guest from quite a new point of view, all in an instant.

View in context

As long as the connection subsists between his reason and his self-love, his opinions and his passions will have a reciprocal influence on each other; and the former will be objects to which the latter will attach themselves.

View in context

The latter is meant to designate the French creole of Canada or Louisiana; the former, the trapper of the old American stock, from Kentucky, Tennessee, and others of the western States.

View in context

Climate may have had great influence on the former, but it is difficult to see how it can have produced the substantial difference which exists in the latter.

View in context

The latter felt immensely superior to his friend, but he inclined to condescension.

View in context

You must except, nevertheless, Marcus Antonius, the half partner of the empire of Rome, and Appius Claudius, the decemvir and lawgiver; whereof the former was indeed a voluptuous man, and inordinate; but the latter was an austere and wise man: and therefore it seems (though rarely) that love can find entrance, not only into an open heart, but also into a heart well fortified, if watch be not well kept.

View in context

The former of these teaching the folly and vanity of it, and the latter correcting it as unlawful, and at the same time assuaging it, by raising future hopes and assurances, which enable a strong and religious mind to take leave of a friend, on his deathbed, with little less indifference than if he was preparing for a long journey; and, indeed, with little less hope of seeing him again.

View in context

Pennifeather -- although this latter occurrence was, indeed, by no means a novelty, for no good will had subsisted between the parties for the last three or four months; and matters had even gone so far that Mr.