LATTER

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does latter mean? 

• LATTER (noun)
  The noun LATTER has 1 sense:

1. the second of two or the second mentioned of two

  Familiarity information: LATTER used as a noun is very rare.

• LATTER (adjective)
  The adjective LATTER has 1 sense:

1. referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)

  Familiarity information: LATTER used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LATTER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The second of two or the second mentioned of two

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Context example:

Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the latter is remembered today

Hypernyms ("latter" is a kind of...):

second (following the first in an ordering or series)

Antonym:

former (the first of two or the first mentioned of two)

• LATTER (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)

Context example:

in the latter case

Similar:

last mentioned (the one most recently mentioned)

Antonym:

former (referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several))

 Context examples 

"The place smells so vilely," said the latter as we came in.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Removing the wads from the latter with my knife, I emptied the powder on a flat rock.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The latter was thinking only of his breakfast.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

So, Traddles remained for the latter purpose, to be presently relieved by Mr. Dick; and Mr. Dick, my aunt, and I, went home with Mr. Micawber.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his hand as if to strike his father.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Some of the latter had already been to see me, and reported strange things of my beauty, behaviour, and good sense.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Uranus will be acting up, challenging Mercury first, and on the latter day, the Sun.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

“Have no fear,” said the latter to his master.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

So far he had found only the latter slot.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

But the sympathies of the latter were with the mother?

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)