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Glite Dictionary
latency period

latency period

1 8.9
A childhood stage from about age five to puberty when sexual feelings are turned toward school and friends
  • noun
  • /ˈleɪtənsi ˈpɪərəd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : período de latencia
  • The latency period is characterized by the repression of sexual impulses, allowing children to develop socially acceptable behaviors.

Examples

  • Children often engage in various activities during the latency period, focusing on friendships and hobbies rather than romantic interests.

  • It is a conscious fantasy, built up in the latency period.

    Academic text (2008)

  • During the latency period, many children experience a shift in their interests, becoming more engaged in learning and group activities.

Synonyms

latency
vslatency period
1 7.4

A time when something exists but is not yet active or visible

is a specific psychoanalytic childhood stage involving repression and redirection
latency stage
vslatency period
  • Specialized
9.3

A childhood period from age five to puberty when sexual feelings are quiet and energy goes into friendships and learning

is the same stage but named with a different word form
latency phase
vslatency period
  • Specialized
9.6

A stage in child development from about five until puberty when children focus on learning and friends

emphasizes repression and redirection rather than stage numbering

Antonyms

puberty
74 2.8

The time when a young person's body changes and becomes able to have children

Surface Forms

latency period singular
latency periods plural

Morphology

latency + period

The noun is compositionally built from 'latency' (a state of being dormant) + 'period' (a measured interval), so a learner who knows both words can infer a general meaning of 'a time when something is latent or inactive.' However, the specific psychoanalytic sense (the childhood stage characterised by repression of sexual impulses) is specialized and not predictable from the constituents alone, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

The phrase latency period comes from the idea that latency means 'hidden' or 'quiet' and period means a time. So it describes the childhood time when strong sexual feelings are kept quiet and used in school, friendships and other normal activities.