noun
Uncommon
latency
LAY-ten-see
Latency (noun) means the delay between an action and the response to it, especially the time data takes to travel across a network. Example: “High latency makes the game unplayable even when the download speed is fine.”
noun
1
computing The delay between an action and the response to it, especially the time data takes to travel across a network.
"High latency makes the game unplayable even when the download speed is fine."
"We moved the servers closer to users to cut latency by half."
2
The state of existing but not yet being active or visible.
"The virus can remain in latency for decades before symptoms appear."
"Years of latency preceded the sudden public interest in the technology."
How to use latency
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow long you wait between doing something and seeing it happen.
When to use it
Technical in the network sense; more formal and medical in the dormancy sense.
Memory tip
Lower latency is better. Higher bandwidth is better. Mixing the two up is the most common mistake people make about internet speed.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
low latency
high latency
network latency
latency spike
reduce latency
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like latency.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
High _____ makes the game unplayable even when the download speed is fine.
Etymology
From Latin latere, "to lie hidden", by way of latent.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for latency
agency
urgency
potency
decency
regency
currency
tendency
clemency
leniency
frequency
emergency
residency
See all rhymes for latency →
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between latency and bandwidth?
Bandwidth is how much data can move per second; latency is how long a single piece of data takes to get there. A satellite link can have huge bandwidth and still feel sluggish because every request takes half a second to arrive.
Is latency the same as ping?
Ping is the everyday name for a measurement of latency, usually the round-trip time in milliseconds reported by the ping tool. Latency is the general concept; ping is one way of measuring it.
What counts as good latency?
For online gaming and video calls, under about 50 milliseconds feels immediate and over 150 becomes noticeable. For ordinary browsing, latency of a couple of hundred milliseconds is barely perceptible.
What is the meaning of latency?
"latency" (noun) means the delay between an action and the response to it, especially the time data takes to travel across a network.
