latent

Meanings

Adjective

• Existing or present but concealed or inactive.
• remaining in an inactive or hidden phase; dormant.
• lying dormant or hidden until circumstances are suitable for development or manifestation.

Noun

• The residue left by a person's finger that can be made visible by a process such as powder dusting; a latent fingerprint.
• An underlying cause that can be inferred from statistical correlations; factor.
• Anything that is latent.

Related

Similar words

• hidden, invisible

Opposite words

• apparent, patent, visible

Origin

• From Middle English latent, latente, from Old French latent, from Latin latens, present participle of lateo.