What term describes energy that is stored for use at a later time?

The term that describes energy stored for later use is potential energy. This type of energy is associated with the position or configuration of an object. For example, when an object is raised to a certain height, it possesses gravitational potential energy due to its elevation above ground level. Similarly, potential energy can be found in a compressed spring or a stretched rubber band, where energy is stored due to the object's position relative to its natural state.

Kinetic energy refers to the energy of motion; it is the energy an object has due to its movement rather than its position. Thermal energy is related to the temperature of an object and is the energy that comes from the motion of particles within a substance. Mechanical energy encompasses both kinetic and potential energy associated with the motion and position of an object, but it does not specifically refer to the stored energy concept.

The distinction lies in the fact that potential energy explicitly indicates energy that can be stored and utilized later, which aligns perfectly with the provided definition in the question.