Meaning

Late; overdue or delayed..

Definitions by Sense

1. Late; overdue or delayed.
2. Moving with a slow pace or motion; not swift.
3. Ineffectual; slow-witted, slow to act, or dull.
4. (obsolete) Unwary; unready (especially in the phrase take (someone) tardy).
5. (obsolete) Criminal; guilty.
6. (US) A piece of paper given to students who are late to class.
7. (US) An instance of a student's being marked as tardy by a teacher on the teacher's attendance sheet.
8. (obsolete, transitive) To make tardy.

Example Sentences

He yawned, then raised a tardy hand over his mouth.

When everything is ended, then you come. / These tardy tricks of yours will, on my life, / One time or other break some gallows’ back.

Men of genius anticipate their contemporaries, and know they are such, long before the tardy consent of the public.

As a matter of fact, the luncheon fare, when it made its tardy appearance, was distinctly unworthy of the reputation which the justly-treasured cook had built up for herself.

And the Black Muslims, along with many people who are not Muslims, no longer wish for a recognition so grudging and (should it ever be achieved) so tardy.

[…] fashions in proud Italy, / Whose manners still our tardy apish nation / Limps after in base imitation.

Nor should their Age by Yeares be told: / Whose Souls, more swift then Motion, clime; / And check the tardy Flight of Time.

In various Views she tries her constant Theme; / Finds him, in Councils, and in Arms, the same: / When certain to o’ercome, inclin’d to save; / Tardy to Vengeance; and with Mercy brave.

Word Forms

• tardier
• tardiest
• tardies
• tardying
• tardied

Synonyms for tardy

Related Words

When Should You Use Tardy?

Use tardy when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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