# latent

/ˈɫeɪtənt/ (US) · /lˈeɪtənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/latent
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. hidden or dormant

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

describes something that is present but not yet active, visible, or developed.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. hidden variables

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical · Academic

describes a piece of information that is not seen directly but is found by looking at other facts.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. a fingerprint

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a hidden fingerprint left on a surface that needs special powder or light to be seen.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The doctor says the virus is currently latent in his body.
- The tests revealed a latent talent for mathematics that the student had never explored before.
- While the conflict appeared to have been resolved, latent tensions between the two communities remained just below the surface, waiting for a catalyst to reignite them.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.