latter
Often confused with later
- 1Being the second of two people or things previously mentioned.
We considered both Madrid and Lisbon, and finally settled on the latter.
He could either resign or fight the charges; he chose the latter.
UsageUsually the latter, standing alone and paired with the former. For the final item of three or more, the last is usual.
Similarsecond
Oppositeformer
- 2Belonging to the later part of a period, a life, or a process, or to times closer to the present.
The latter stages of the marathon tested every runner's endurance.
Profits improved noticeably in the latter months of the fiscal year.
UsageUsually with the before a noun: the latter part of, the latter half of, the latter stages of something.
Practice
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Origin
Old English had læt ("late"), and this word comes from its comparative, lætra. Later is its doublet; last is related, and has latest as its own doublet.