We don't normally talk about the last fashions or the last trends , we talk about the latest fashions and the latest trends. People don't leave their latest will and testament in a strongbox, they leave their last will and testament. 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.
If I talk about the last inning of a baseball game , I could be referring to the ninth inning of a game, or even the fourth inning of a game, if we are currently in the fifth inning:. In these two cases they both essentually mean "the most recent" but you wouldn't say "Karen was always keeping up to date with the last fashions.
It seems that these two words are interchangeable when A the topic is time-related and B the topic is something that can "end" multiple times. When the two words are interchangeable, "last" is preferred even if "latest" is technically correct. In the phrase "the last update was on Ditto for "last activity", "last modified on date You can't use "last" for "latest fad", "latest fashions", or "latest trends", but that's no surprise since there can't really be an "end" of those things.
On the other hand, you can't use "latest" for "last apple", "last day", "last meal", "last week". I'd tend to agree that 'last' is past and 'latest' is present. The idea that last is final and nothing comes after in is true in some senses. Eeven in seemingly clearcut cases, it may not be so simple. Let's take last will and testament. It often happens that a will is revised repeatedly.
In this case, it wouldn't be incorrect to talk of my lastest will I'm still alive and I might change it again. The last bit of news I heard may or may not be current - there might have been new developments.
The latest news clearly is current. Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group. Create a free Team What is Teams? Style: MLA. More Definitions for last. Kids Definition of last Entry 1 of 4. Kids Definition of last Entry 2 of 4. Kids Definition of last Entry 3 of 4. Kids Definition of last Entry 4 of 4.
Choose the Right Synonym for last Adjective last and final mean following all the others. Get Word of the Day daily email! Test Your Vocabulary. Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way. Love words?
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