adj Uncommon

lagging

Lagging (adj) means falling behind; failing to keep up with the expected pace. Example: “The lagging economy worried investors.”

adj

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

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 notes

In 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

Word forms

more lagging comparative, laggings plural, most lagging superlative

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The _____ economy worried investors.

Etymology

From "lag" plus the "-ing" ending.

Rhymes for lagging

nagging tagging bagging sagging gagging wagging ragging dragging bragging shagging

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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.