English Explanatory Dictionary

latent

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Existing or present but concealed or inactive.
  2. Remaining in an inactive or hidden phase; dormant.
  3. Lying dormant or hidden until circumstances are suitable for development or manifestation.
noun
  1. The residue left by a person's finger that can be made visible by a process such as powder dusting; a latent fingerprint.
  2. An underlying cause that can be inferred from statistical correlations; factor.
  3. Anything that is latent.

Pronunciation

/ˈleɪ.tənt/ En-us-latent.ogg

Word forms

latent latents

Etymology

From Middle English latent, latente, from Old French latent, from Latin latēns, present participle of lateō (“lie hidden”).

Synonyms

hidden invisible dormant abeyant at rest cessant dull fallow idle inactive inert languid latent nonactive passive quiescent silent sedent sedentary slow suspended torpid unactive unbusy unemployed unoccupied

Antonyms

apparent patent visible active

Derived words

antilatent latency latensification latent fingerprint latent heat latently latentness latent news latent print latent space latent time latent value latent variable latent vector semilatent
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