latent
- 01 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“The doctor explained that the virus could remain latent in the body for years.”
In context“The researcher argued that the community possessed a latent desire for change that only required a catalyst to become a political movement.”
UsageCommonly used in medical, psychological, and social contexts to describe qualities or conditions that are not yet active.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
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.
Simple“The study looked for latent patterns in how people spend their money.”
In context“Latent variable models are frequently employed in social sciences to measure abstract concepts like intelligence or socioeconomic status.”
UsageTypically used in statistics and data analysis.
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
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.
Simple“The police technician spent hours searching the crime scene for latents.”
In context“The forensic team successfully recovered several latents from the glass surface using a fluorescent powder and ultraviolet light.”
Usage latent model · latent variable
“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.”
From Middle English latent, latente, from Old French latent, from Latin latēns, present participle of lateō (“lie hidden”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.