---
title: "Cross-loading (factor analysis)"
description: "You're only likely to see this in reports of exploratory factor analyses of measures. #### Details The term is used when an item in a measure which is only supposed to reflect one of a number of presumed latent variables…"
url: "https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/cross-loading-factor-analysis/"
updated: "2026-06-01"
category: All OM book glossary entries
---

# Cross-loading (factor analysis)

You're only likely to see this in reports of exploratory factor analyses of measures.

#### Details

The term is used when an item in a measure which is only supposed to reflect one of a number of presumed latent variables shows a meaningful loading (typically over .4 or sometimes .3) on another. See the example of item 7 in my item here about [factor structure](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/factor-structure/).

#### Try also

- [Exploratory Factor Analysis](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/exploratory-factor-analysis-efa/)
- [Factor Analysis](https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/glossary2/factor-analysis/)
- [Factor Structure](http://Factor Analysis)

#### Chapters

Not covered in the OMbook.

#### Online resources

None likely from me.

#### Dates

First created 13.iii.26.