latecomer

noun

late·​com·​er ˈlāt-ˌkə-mər How to pronounce latecomer (audio)
Synonyms of latecomernext
: one that arrives late
also : a recent arrival

Examples of latecomer in a Sentence

Latecomers had to park their cars far from the stadium.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
By the time the service begins, the latecomers stand at the back. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 6 July 2026 Iheanachor is a former high school hooper and latecomer to football. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026 Critics who had long compared the market to a Ponzi scheme, in which early investors profited from latecomers, basked in schadenfreude. — Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 18 Mar. 2026 The theory of probability was a latecomer in the history of math. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for latecomer

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of latecomer was in 1599

Browse Nearby Words

late capitalism
latecomer
late cut
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Latecomer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/latecomer. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

latecomer

noun
late·​com·​er ˈlāt-ˌkəm-ər How to pronounce latecomer (audio)
: one who arrives late
also : one who has recently arrived

More from Merriam-Webster on latecomer

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for latecomer

Nglish: Translation of latecomer for Spanish Speakers

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