- occurring later than expected
- slow in progress, growth, etc
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
tar•dy /ˈtɑrdi/USA pronunciation
adj., -di•er, -di•est.
tar•di•ness, n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- late; behind time;
not on time. - moving or acting slowly;
sluggish.
tar•di•ness, n. [uncountable]
tar•dy
(tär′dē),USA pronunciation adj., -di•er, -di•est.
tar′di•ly, adv.
tar′di•ness, n.
- late;
behind time;
not on time:How tardy were you today? - moving or acting slowly;
slow;
sluggish. - delaying through reluctance.
- Vulgar Latin *tardīvus, equivalent. to Latin tard(us) slow + -īvus -ive
- Old French
- earlier tardive, tardif 1475–85
tar′di•ness, n.
- 1. slack. 3. dilatory.
- 1. prompt.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
tardy /ˈtɑːdɪ/ adj ( -dier, -diest)
'tardy' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):