dormant issue

[DOR-muhnt ISH-oo]
nounpl: dormant issues
questão latente
1. A problem, conflict, or concern that exists but is currently inactive, unaddressed, or not being discussed
The dormant issue of water rights resurfaced when the drought began.
A questão latente dos direitos hídricos ressurgiu quando a seca começou.
2. A legal or contractual matter that is not presently being enforced or pursued but could be activated in the future
The dormant issue in the contract remained unresolved for years until new management took over.
A questão latente do contrato permaneceu sem resolução por anos até que a nova gestão assumisse.
3. A social or political problem that has been temporarily set aside but retains potential to become relevant again
Racial tension was a dormant issue in the community until the recent incident reignited the debate.
A tensão racial era uma questão latente na comunidade até que o incidente recente reavivou o debate.
In Brazilian business and legal contexts, 'questão latente' is frequently used when discussing corporate disputes or social problems that have been temporarily shelved. In the USA, this phrase is common in legal, political, and organizational discourse when referring to conflicts or issues that may resurface. The concept reflects the understanding that unresolved problems tend to reemerge, particularly in litigious and social-justice-focused American culture.
NYC Slang
sleeping problem, under-the-radar issue
Synonyms / Sinônimos
latent issuepending matterunresolved problemsleeping giantunderlying concern
Antonyms / Antônimos
active issuepressing concernurgent matterresolved issue

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
questão latente
Most common formal usage in Brazilian Portuguese
General Brazilian
assunto pendente
Alternative translation emphasizing pending nature
Portugal
questão adormecida
More literal translation using 'adormecida' (sleeping)
Legal contexts
questão inativa
Used in legal and formal business contexts

Related Words

dormancylatentactivationreactivateunaddressedunderlying

Related Idioms & Phrases

let sleeping dogs lie
time bomb
powder keg
ticking time bomb
simmering under the surface
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →