When two people, things, or groups have just been mentioned, you can refer to the second of them as the latter.
He tracked down his cousin and uncle. The latter was sick.
Latter is also an adjective.
There are the people who speak after they think and the people who think while they'respeaking. Mike definitely belongs in the latter category.
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You use latter to describe the later part of a period of time or event.
He is getting into the latter years of his career.
The latter part of the debate concentrated on abortion.
Synonyms: last, later, latest, ending More Synonyms of latter
More Synonyms of latter
latter in British English
(ˈlætə)
adjective(prenominal)
1.
a.
denoting the second or second mentioned of two: distinguished from former
b.
(as noun; functioning as singular 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 thelatter. The last of three or more items can be referred to as the last-named
latter in American English
(ˈlætər)
adjective
1. alt. compar. of
late
2.
a.
later; more recent
b.
nearer the end or close
the latter part of May
3.
last mentioned of two
often used absolutely (with the)
Jack and Bill are twins, but the latter is shorter than the former
see also former1
Word origin
ME lattre < OE lættra, compar. of læt: it represents the orig. compar. form; late adjective is a new formation
Examples of 'latter' in a sentence
latter
Examples of the latter two objects are depicted in the show as well.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
Some enlightened officers already do the latter part of this work voluntarily.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He came at me strong in the latter stages.
The Sun (2017)
Of the latter, half had been granted amnesty and the other half were undergoing more screening.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We've all tried for the former and ended up with the latter many a time.
The Sun (2016)
The latter can counteract anxiety and agitation, and has been shown to rise after yoga and meditation.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Somehow, you feel the place in the coaching Valhalla matters more to the former than the latter.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Challenging the former can play a significant part in ending the latter.
Salkie, Raphael The Chomsky Update - Linguistics and Politics (1990)
My feeling at the time was the latter.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This in a country obsessed with the latter two.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The latter part of this story left me with a sinking feeling.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
You can convert the latter into verbs or adverbs.
Porush, David A Short Guide to Writing About Science (1995)
The latter forlornly takes centre stage while the latter prompts his lines.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Yet it has proved so much easier to do the former than the latter.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The latter refers to the mirror that literature holds up to life.
Christianity Today (2000)
The latter two were adapted into acclaimed films.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But things are looking up for the latter part of the year.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The latter he can do more quickly.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
By the latter stages both sides were content to see out time.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The former outsold the latter about four to one.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The latter two have no experience running prisons.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The latter can be measured by the employment entropy index.
Forstner, Helmut, Ballance, Robert Competing in a Global Economy (1990)
It was only when he loosened up in the latter stages of the fourth set that he really ran away from me.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But snow is not unusual for the latter half of November.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Predictably, the latter ends up scheduled before the former.
The Sun (2010)
The first failed to recover in time, the latter retired from the international game.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The latter part of the year brings health solutions to some areas, so hang on in there.
The Sun (2016)
But in the latter half of this year he has finally got to grips with the car and has consistently outperformed the younger man.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
I suspect in the end the latter argument will win out.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Will they be a safe haven this year or an uncertain refuge in times of trouble, as in the latter half of last year?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
latter
British English: latter PRONOUN
the latter When two people or things have just been mentioned, you can call the second one the latter.
He tracked down his cousin and uncle. The latter was sick.
American English: latter
Brazilian Portuguese: este
Chinese: 后者
European Spanish: éste
French: dernier
German: Letztere
Italian: ultimo
Japanese: 後者
Korean: 후자의
European Portuguese: este
Latin American Spanish: éste
All related terms of 'latter'
late
Late means near the end of a day , week , year , or other period of time.
latter-day
Latter-day is used to describe someone or something that is a modern equivalent of a person or thing in the past .
Latter Prophets
a subdivision of the books constituting the second main part of the Hebrew Bible , comprising those books which in Christian tradition are alone called the Prophets and which are divided into Major Prophets and Minor Prophets
Latter-day Saint
a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ( Mormon Church)
Latter-day Saints
a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ( Mormon Church)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
a Christian Church founded in 1830 at La Fayette, New York , by Joseph Smith
Chinese translation of 'latter'
latter
(ˈlætəʳ)
adj
(= not former) 后(後)者的 (hòuzhě de)
(= later)[part, half]后(後)半的 (hòubàn de)
n
the latter后(後)者 (hòuzhě)
(noun)
Definition
the second or second mentioned of two
He tracked down his cousin and uncle. The latter was sick.
Synonyms
second
last
last-mentioned
second-mentioned
(adjective)
Definition
more advanced in time or sequence
The latter part of the debate concentrated on housing.
Synonyms
last
the last three pages of the chapter
later
latest
ending
closing
final
the final book in the series
concluding
Opposites
earlier
,
former
,
previous
,
prior
,
preceding
,
foregoing
,
antecedent
Usage note
The latter should only be used to specify the second of two items, for example in if I had to choose between the hovercraft and the ferry, I would opt for the latter. Where there are three or more items, the last can be referred to as the last-named, but not the latter.