latency
LAY-tuhn-see
/ˈleɪ.tən.si/
The time delay between sending a signal or command and receiving the response over a network.
In video calling, high latency causes audio delays, awkward overlapping speech, and lip-sync issues.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'latere' (to lie hidden). For centuries, 'latency' referred to hidden diseases or dormant talents. In computing, it was re-purposed to measure hidden time delays lurking beneath network transmissions.
Word relationships
- lag: 'Lag' is informal everyday slang for network delay, while 'latency' is the precise technical measurement term.
- immediacy: Immediacy implies instant transmission without measurable delay.
Commonly confused with
- bandwidth: Latency measures time delay (milliseconds), while bandwidth measures network throughput capacity (Mbps).
Word family
- latent (adjective): Existing but hidden, dormant, or not yet visible.
Collocations
- high latency
- low latency
- reduce latency
- audio latency
Example sentences
- "High network latency caused a noticeable two-second delay between when the speaker spoke and when the audio reached participants." Network performance analysis
Memory hook
LATENCY comes from LATE: network responses arriving late. The hidden delay.
When not to use
Do not use 'latency' to describe long-term human procrastination; reserve it for signal delay or medical latency states.
Fun facts
- Financial trading firms spend millions of dollars reducing network latency by single milliseconds to execute stock trades faster.
Explore more words
Also appears in
- Time & History → Delay, Waiting & Postponement
- Devices & Everyday Tech → Wi-Fi & Internet Connectivity
- Hobbies, Crafts & Leisure → Video Gaming & Consoles
- Work & Office Life → Office IT & Tech Support
- Devices & Everyday Tech → Smart Home & IoT Devices
- Music, Instruments & Performance → Music Production & Mixing
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