potential

[ puh-ten-shuh l ]
/ pəˈtɛn ʃəl /

adjective

noun

Origin of potential

1350–1400; Middle English potencial (< Old French) < Late Latin potentiālis. See potency, -al1

SYNONYMS FOR potential

2 See latent.
5 capacity, potency.

OTHER WORDS FROM potential

non·po·ten·tial, adjective, noun

Example sentences from the Web for potential

British Dictionary definitions for potential

potential
/ (pəˈtɛnʃəl) /

adjective

  1. possible but not yet actual
  2. (prenominal) capable of being or becoming but not yet in existence; latent
grammar (of a verb or form of a verb) expressing possibility, as English may and might
an archaic word for potent 1

noun

latent but unrealized ability or capacity Jones has great potential as a sales manager
grammar a potential verb or verb form
short for electric potential

Derived forms of potential

potentially, adverb

Word Origin for potential

C14: from Old French potencial, from Late Latin potentiālis, from Latin potentia power

Medical definitions for potential

potential
[ pə-tĕnshəl ]

adj.

Capable of being but not yet in existence; latent.

n.

The inherent ability or capacity for growth, development, or coming into being.
The work required to bring a unit electric charge, magnetic pole, or mass from an infinitely distant position to a designated point in a static electric, magnetic, or gravitational field, respectively.
The potential energy of a unit charge at any point in an electric circuit measured with respect to a specified reference point in the circuit or to ground; voltage.