späterer

Späterer is an attributive form of the German adjective spät (late) used before masculine singular nouns to mean “later” or “a later ….” It denotes a following time or version in contrast to an earlier one, rather than the adverbial sense of später. For example, ein späterer Termin means a later appointment, and der spätere Zeitpunkt refers to a later moment.

In terms of grammar, spä­ter­er is the masculine nominative singular form. Other gender and case forms exist (for instance, spätere for feminine nouns and späteres for neuter nouns in nominative, with appropriate endings in other cases). Typical examples include der spätere Termin, die spätere Datei, das spätere Beispiel. The form is used with definite or indefinite articles, and with nouns to specify a later instance in sequence or planning.

Usage notes: spä­ter­er emphasizes a contrast with an earlier or previously mentioned item. It is not an adverb, so it does not replace später in sentences like Wir kommen später. Instead, it functions as an adjective that modifies a noun, as in Wir vereinbarten einen späteren Termin. The choice between spä­ter­er and its other gendered forms depends on the noun it describes and the sentence’s case.

Etymology and related forms: spät comes from Proto-Germanic spätaz; spät- forms yield the comparative später and the attributive forms späterer, spätere, späteres. Related phrases include der spätere Zeitpunkt and die spätere Version, used to denote something that occurs or is considered after another.