adj
Uncommon
lagging
Lagging (adj) means falling behind; failing to keep up with the expected pace. Example: “The lagging economy worried investors.”
adj
1
Falling behind; failing to keep up with the expected pace.
"The lagging economy worried investors."
"She noticed a lagging runner near the back of the pack."
noun
1
Insulating material, often strips of felt or fibre, wrapped around pipes or tanks to reduce heat loss.
"The plumber wrapped fresh lagging around the hot water pipes."
"Old lagging on the boiler had worn thin and needed replacing."
How to use lagging
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "falling behind" (as an adjective) or pipe insulation (as a noun) — two unrelated senses of the same spelling.
Common pairings
pipe lagging
lagging indicator
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Word forms
- Plural
- laggings
- Comparative
- more lagging
- Superlative
- most lagging
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ economy worried investors.
Etymology
From "lag" plus the "-ing" ending.
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for lagging
See all rhymes for lagging →Frequently asked questions
What does “lagging” mean?
The word “lagging” means falling behind; failing to keep up with the expected pace. In plain terms, either "falling behind" (as an adjective) or pipe insulation (as a noun) — two unrelated senses of the same spelling.
How do you use “lagging” in a sentence?
Here is “lagging” used in a sentence: “The lagging economy worried investors.”
What part of speech is “lagging”?
Depending on how it is used, “lagging” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “lagging” a common word?
“Lagging” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “lagging” have?
“Lagging” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: falling behind; failing to keep up with the expected pace.
