What does "latent variable" mean?

A variable that is not directly measured but is inferred by means of a mathematical model from one or more directly observed variables.

Latent variable

Common synonyms include: alopius, dflp, fofl, hidden indicator variable, non physical science unit, psychological construct.

noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Noun

1
A variable that is not directly measured but is inferred by means of a mathematical model from one or more directly observed variables.
"Each of these is a latent variable, which is measured by one or more observable variables."

"Each of these is a latent variable, which is measured by one or more observable variables."

The variables are latent (“hidden”) because they are not directly observed, but instead inferred from other variables.