tardy — arriving or happening after the expected, planned, or usual time; late
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: arriving or happening after the expected, planned, or usual time; late
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈtɑːrdi/
Example Sentences
- The teacher marked him tardy even though he was only two minutes late.
- My alarm clock broke, so I was tardy for the most important exam of the year.
- The pizza delivery was so tardy that I could have walked to Italy and back.
tardy
ADJECTIVE[/ˈtɑːrdi/]
arriving or happening after the expected, planned, or usual time; late
Running late to important meeting
Though tardy, the hardy join the party!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word 'tardy' derives from Latin 'tardus', meaning 'slow' or 'sluggish'. Over time, the meaning evolved to denote 'late' or 'delayed', as slowness in movement naturally leads to arriving after the expected time.
Breakdown
tardus (Latin: slow, sluggish) → tardy (late, delayed). The suffix -y is added to the Latin root to form the English adjective.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The teacher marked him tardy even though he was only two minutes late.”
“My alarm clock broke, so I was tardy for the most important exam of the year.”
“The pizza delivery was so tardy that I could have walked to Italy and back.”
“Being tardy to your own wedding is probably not the best way to start a marriage.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.