Word
latter
Meanings
The second of two things or people that have been mentioned.
Near the end of a period of time or a sequence.
Definition
The latter refers to the second of two things or people that have just been mentioned.
The latter is used when you mention two items and then refer back to the second one. It helps avoid repeating the second word or phrase. It is often contrasted with the former, which refers to the first item.
Examples
- We could meet on Tuesday or Thursday; the latter works better for me.
- The report compares efficiency and resilience, and the latter matters most during crises.
- She considered moving to Canada or Australia, but chose the latter after visiting Sydney.
- They debated whether to revise the draft or start over, and the latter ultimately saved time.
- I can pay by card or in cash, but the latter is all I have today.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use the latter when more than two items were mentioned, but it should refer only to the second of two.
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.