tardy

1 of 2

adjective

tar·​dy ˈtär-dē 

tardier; tardiest

1

: moving slowly : sluggish

… the tardy pace at which she was obliged to walk.

—Charles Dickens

2

: delayed beyond the expected or proper time : late

a tardy arrival

tardy

2 of 2

noun

plural tardies

: an instance of being tardy (as to a class)

Synonyms of tardy

Adjective

• leisurely
• slow
• dilatory
• lagging

Examples of tardy in a Sentence

Adjective

She was tardy to work.

They were tardy in filing the application.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Kim Zolciak-Biermann's second daughter wasn't tardy for her party — her romantic photoshoto was practically the main event. —Lindy Segal, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026

When Noble reopened after the pandemic abated, tardy rates soared, staff satisfaction plummeted, and violence on campus, previously rare, spiked. —Steven F. Wilson, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026

Xander Roker and Kirf Olander, San Diegans by way of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, respectively, were tardy to the party, but had no complaints about paying twice face price for the privilege. —Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026

Teachers accepted tardy excuses from parents of students stuck in gas lines. —Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

alteration of earlier tardif, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *tardivus, from Latin tardus

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1960, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tardy

• hardie
• lardy
• pardy
• foolhardy
• sephardi

Kids Definition

tardy

adjective

tar·​dy

ˈtärd-ē

tardier; tardiest

1

: moving slowly : sluggish

2

: not on time : late

tardily

ˈtärd-ə-lē

adverb

tardiness

ˈtärd-ē-nəs

noun