ENGLISH
REFERENCE

latter

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈɫætɝ// UK //lˈætɐ// lat·ter

n. the second of two people or things that were just mentioned. You use it to avoid repeating the same name or word again.

n. the second of two entities or items previously mentioned in a sequence. Used as a cohesive device to maintain reference without lexical repetition.


SIMPLE

He offered tea or coffee, and I chose the latter.

CONTEXTUAL

The report discussed both solar and wind energy, concluding that the latter is more cost-effective in coastal regions.

COMPLEX

While the first proposal focused on immediate infrastructure repairs and the second on long-term urban planning, the committee ultimately voted in favor of the latter due to its visionary scope.

Antonyms
Origin

From Old English lætra, comparative form of læt (“late”). Doublet of later; also, cognate with last, whose doublet is latest.

Usage

Always used with the definite article 'the'. It functions as a pronoun-like noun to refer back to the second of exactly two items.

Pitfall

I prefer the later.I prefer the latter.Learners often confuse 'latter' (the second of two) with 'later' (at a time in the future).

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