Definition of latent
:present and capable of emerging or developing but not now visible, obvious, active, or symptomatic
- a latent infection
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Examples of latent in a Sentence
- On the ground in Afghanistan there is some latent, if wary, gratitude for American aid over the years, but no one expects to build a foundation for the Taliban's downfall on a couple of million rice cakes. —Michael Duffy, Time, 15 Oct. 2001
- There were such inexhaustible possibilities still before her, such opportunities to bring out the latent graces of the old place, without a single irreverent touch of alteration, that the winter months were all too short to plan what spring and autumn executed. —Edith Wharton, Afterward, 1910
- Calm, gentle, passionless, as he appeared, there was yet, we fear, a quiet depth of malice, hitherto latent, but active now, in this unfortunate old man, which led him to imagine a more intimate revenge than any mortal had ever wreaked upon an enemy. —Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, 1850
he has a latent talent for acting that he hasn't had a chance to express yet
Recent Examples of latent from the Web
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Online spaces, large and small, are generally hostile, sexist, and simmering with latent or obvious toxicity for people who aren’t straight white guys.
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Perennially latent, extremist and racist nationalism tends to spike in periods of economic and social stress like ours.
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This is a very safe space for the remaining vestiges of your latent juvenile vanity.
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Syphilis then goes into a latent stage, which is not associated with any symptoms.
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Flagler, a latent print examiner, analyzes fingerprints left at crime scenes that can’t be seen without some sort of enhancement.
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Ace presented documents from the 1980s when RMWD was given latent powers of the fire protection district following the dissolution of the town’s volunteer fire district.
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But the verdict on Lula could prove divisive, reviving the latent, visceral hostility between the ex-president’s sizable loyal following and his many vocal detractors.
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Although SIDS deaths are sudden, a latent vulnerability may be present for days or months prior to death, the researchers of the PNAS study wrote, and may even originate during gestation.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'latent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of latent
Middle English, from Latin latent-, latens, from present participle of latēre to lie hidden; akin to Greek lanthanein to escape notice
latent Synonyms
Synonyms
dead, dormant, fallow, free, idle, inert, inoperative, inactive, off, unused, vacantAntonyms
active, alive, busy, employed, functioning, going, living, on, operating, operative, running, workingRelated Words
abeyant, arrested, interrupted, suspended; unoccupied; asleep, comatose, lifeless, moribund, quiescent, sleepy; inoperable, unusable, unworkable, useless; dull, slowNear Antonyms
functional, operable, operational, workable; assiduous, industrious, sedulous; energetic, vigorous; feasible, practical, usable (also useable), useful, viableSynonym Discussion of latent
latent, dormant, quiescent, potential mean not now showing signs of activity or existence. latent applies to a power or quality that has not yet come forth but may emerge and develop.
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- a latent desire for success
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- their passion had lain dormant
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- the disease was quiescent
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- a potential disaster
Other Psychology Terms
Definition of latent
:a fingerprint (as at the scene of a crime) that is scarcely visible but can be developed for study — called also
latent fingerprint, latent print
Origin and Etymology of latent
LATENT Defined for English Language Learners
LATENT Defined for Kids
Medical Dictionary
medical Definition of latent
:existing in hidden or dormant form: as
a
:present or capable of living or developing in a host without producing visible symptoms of disease
- a latent virus
- a latent infection
b
:not consciously expressed
- latent anxiety
c
:relating to or being the latent content of a dream or thought
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latently
adverbLaw Dictionary
legal Definition of latent
:existing in hidden or dormant form but usually capable of being brought to light — compare patent
Learn More about latent
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See words that rhyme with latent Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for latent Spanish Central: Translation of latent Nglish: Translation of latent for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of latent for Arabic speakers
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