adj
tardy
TAH-dee
Tardy (adj) means arriving or happening later than expected; late. Example: “He was tardy for the meeting again, and his boss noticed.”
adj
1
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
1
(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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- tardies
- Third person singular
- tardies
- Past tense
- tardied
- Comparative
- tardier
- Superlative
- tardiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He was _____ for the meeting again, and his boss noticed.
Etymology
From French tardif, going back to Latin tardus, meaning slow or sluggish.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for tardy
See all rhymes for tardy →Frequently asked questions
What does “tardy” mean?
The word “tardy” means arriving or happening later than expected; late. In plain terms, a slightly formal word for being late.
How do you pronounce “tardy”?
“Tardy” is pronounced TAH-dee (/ˈtɑɹdi/ in IPA).
How do you use “tardy” in a sentence?
Here is “tardy” used in a sentence: “He was tardy for the meeting again, and his boss noticed.”
What part of speech is “tardy”?
Depending on how it is used, “tardy” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “tardy” come from?
The word “tardy” comes from Latin. From French tardif, going back to Latin tardus, meaning slow or sluggish.
How many meanings does “tardy” have?
“Tardy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: arriving or happening later than expected; late.
