1600-1700Latin present participle of latere ‘to lie hidden’
Examples
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Police experts found latent fingerprints on the glass.
The virus remains latent in the body for many years.
something that is latent is present but hidden, and may develop or become more noticeable in the future → dormantlatent in The virus remains latent in the body for many years. latent aggression—latency noun [uncountable]