Main Entry: ¹po·ten·tial

Pronunciation: \pə-ˈten(t)-shəl\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English potencial, from Late Latin potentialis, from potentia potentiality, from Latin, power, from potent-, potens

Date: 14th century

1 : existing in possibility : capable of development into actuality <potential benefits>
2 : expressing possibility; specifically : of, relating to, or constituting a verb phrase expressing possibility, liberty, or power by the use of an auxiliary with the infinitive of the verb (as in “it may rain”)

synonyms see latent

— po·ten·tial·ly \-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)lē\ adverb