adj

tardy

TAH-dee

adj

Arriving or happening later than expected; late.

"He was tardy for the meeting again, and his boss noticed."

"The report was tardy by almost two weeks."

noun

(US schools) A mark or slip recording that a student arrived late to class.

"She got her third tardy this month and had to see the principal."

"Too many tardies can affect a student's attendance record."

How to Use Tardy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA slightly formal word for being late.

When to use it

Common in American school settings as a noun ("a tardy") for a late arrival, and generally as an adjective meaning late in more formal writing.

Common pairings

tardy arrival notoriously tardy get a tardy

tardier comparative, tardied past tense, tardies plural, Tardys plural, tardies singular, tardiest superlative

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He was _____ for the meeting again, and his boss noticed.

From French tardif, going back to Latin tardus, meaning slow or sluggish.

hardy jeopardy foolhardy