# latter

/ˈɫætɝ/ (US) · /lˈætɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/latter
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the second of two

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

the second of two people or things that have just been mentioned.

For teachers: denoting the second of two items or people previously mentioned; often used with 'the' as a substantive noun.

- The city has a great park and a famous museum; I visited the latter yesterday.
- The report discussed both economic growth and environmental protection, though it focused more heavily on the latter.

Usage: Always used with 'the' when referring to the second of two items.

### 2. near the end

adjective · CEFR B2

near the end of a period of time or a process.

For teachers: belonging to or occurring near the end of a specified period, process, or era.

- The team played much better in the latter half of the game.
- In the latter stages of the nineteenth century, industrialisation transformed the rural landscape beyond recognition.

Usage: Often used in phrases like 'the latter half' or 'the latter stages'.

### 3. the second person or thing

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the second person or thing of two that you just talked about.

For teachers: the second of two mentioned things or people, functioning as a pronoun-like noun.

- You can pay by cash or credit card, but the latter is much easier.
- The candidate was offered a choice between a higher salary and more vacation days; she chose the latter without hesitation.

Usage: Functions as a noun phrase, almost always preceded by 'the'.

Teaching tip: This is very common in academic writing to avoid repeating a long noun phrase.

## Examples

- He offered tea or coffee, and I chose the latter.
- The report discussed both solar and wind energy, concluding that the latter is more cost-effective in coastal regions.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.