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

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.

Origin: Latin

hardy jeopardy foolhardy

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.