tardy

1 of 2

adjective

tar·​dy ˈtär-dē How to pronounce tardy (audio)
tardier; tardiest
Synonyms of tardynext
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

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Adjective

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Examples of tardy in a Sentence

Adjective She was tardy to work. They were tardy in filing the application.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
By the main course, most tardy guests have managed to arrive, but not all. — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 4 May 2026 But unlike a premiere, live television doesn’t wait for the tardy A-lister to start. — Lindsey Bahr, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026 Teachers accepted tardy excuses from parents of students stuck in gas lines. — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026 During one confessional, the model gave Zverev grief for always being tardy. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 7 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tardy

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of tardy was in the 15th century

Rhymes for tardy

See All Rhymes for tardy

Browse Nearby Words

tar drum
tardy
tare
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tardy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tardy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on tardy

Nglish: Translation of tardy for Spanish Speakers

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