Learn English – What’s the difference between “last” and “latest”

differencemeaning

When should I use "last" and "latest"?

I found two examples:

  • What was the last book you read?
  • Karen was always up to date on the latest fashions

It seems both mean "the most recent". Can we use both with this meaning?

Best Answer

The difference is in the future of the sentence.

  • Last implies nothing else will follow. It's the last, and after this it is finished.
  • Latest implies that it is the last to date, which means there could be more to follow.

The examples in J.R.'s post fit the case:

they leave their last will and testament.

They won't be able to leave another will after that. These are their last wishes.

the latest fashions and the latest trends.

These are the fashions and trends of this moment. However, this will change in the future. But at this moment, these are the latest.

However, there are exceptions, as J.R. also points out quite nicely:

As a matter of fact, I think I might prefer the latest book you've read to the last book you've read, although I wouldn't correct anyone for using the latter. A pedantic wiseacre might answer, "What was the last book you read?" by saying, "Last? I hope I'll be reading another soon!", even though the word last is used that way.

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