manifest

Manifest is a word with several related meanings in English. As an adjective, it means clear, obvious, or observable; something that is manifest is readily perceived or understood. As a verb, to manifest can mean to reveal or demonstrate a quality, or to become visible. As a noun, manifest refers to a document that lists the cargo, passengers, and crew of a vehicle or vessel, used for identification, control, and customs purposes.

Etymology: The term derives from Latin manifestus 'clear, evident', through Old French manifeste into English.

Common uses:

In transportation and shipping, a manifest is a detailed list carried on ships, airplanes, or trucks that names items, quantities, and persons aboard. It is used for logistics, security, and customs, and may be revised as cargo moves or passengers board.

In computing and software, a manifest is a file or document that describes a package, application, or component and its metadata, dependencies, permissions, and configuration. Examples include AndroidManifest.xml in Android apps, the manifest file in Java JARs, Windows application manifests, and web app manifests for progressive web apps.

In philosophy and everyday language, to manifest a quality means to evidence it through appearance or action; in psychology, dream analysis often distinguishes manifest content from latent content.

See also manifestation. The term is highly context-dependent, and its precise meaning is determined by the domain in which it is used.