Word
latent
Phoneticsla·tent, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫeɪtənt/
UK/lˈeɪtənt/
Definitions
01hidden or dormant
C1 · Advanced Academic · Formal
adj. describes something that is present but not yet active, visible, or developed.
adj. existing in a hidden or dormant state; present but not currently manifest or functional.
“The doctor explained that the virus could remain latent in the body for years.”
“The researcher argued that the community possessed a latent desire for change that only required a catalyst to become a political movement.”
Usage
Commonly used in medical, psychological, and social contexts to describe qualities or conditions that are not yet active.
02hidden variables
C2 · Proficiency Mathematics Technical · Academic
adj. describes a piece of information that is not seen directly but is found by looking at other facts.
adj. relating to a variable that is not directly observed but is rather inferred from other variables that are observed.
“The study looked for latent patterns in how people spend their money.”
“Latent variable models are frequently employed in social sciences to measure abstract concepts like intelligence or socioeconomic status.”
Usage
Typically used in statistics and data analysis.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03a fingerprint
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Law Technical
n. a hidden fingerprint left on a surface that needs special powder or light to be seen.
n. a fingerprint formed by the deposit of oils or perspiration, invisible to the naked eye until developed by physical or chemical means.
“The police technician spent hours searching the crime scene for latents.”
“The forensic team successfully recovered several latents from the glass surface using a fluorescent powder and ultraviolet light.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “latent” in context.
Adjective
01. latent model
“Researchers used a latent model to identify underlying patterns in the consumer behavior data.”
adj + noun
02. latent variable
“In statistics, a latent variable is not directly observed but is inferred from other measured factors.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“Aerosols influence the formation and growth of cloud droplets, which can affect condensation and the release of latent heat.” “What I found is that the screen helps capture and draw attention to the grief latent in musicals of all kinds.” “Most contemporary generative models of images, sound and video do not operate directly on pixels or waveforms. They consist of two stages: first, a compact, higher-level latent representation is extracted, and then an iterative generative process operates on this representation instead.” “Now, researchers are trying to work around these problems by crafting models that can work out potential logical solutions completely in “latent space”—the hidden computational layer just before the transformer generates language.” Etymology
From Latin latentem, present participle of latere ('to lie hidden, lurk, escape notice'). Cognate with Greek lethe ('forgetfulness, oblivion').
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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