What does tardy mean?
Tardy is an adjective meaning later than expected or due, especially when someone arrives late or fails to respond promptly. It can describe a person, an arrival, a response, a payment, or the completion of an expected action. The word often carries a mildly disapproving tone because it implies neglect of a deadline or expectation, although it can also be neutral in technical or historical contexts. A second, less common sense refers to something slow-moving or slow to develop, as in tardy growth. Because tardy emphasizes lateness rather than merely slowness, punctual and prompt are its natural opposites. Its derived forms include tardily and tardiness. The word ultimately comes from Latin tardus, meaning “slow” or “late,” a root also preserved in tardigrade.
adjectiveLater than expected or due; delayed. In less common usage, slow-moving or slow to develop.
- Late or delayed in arriving, responding, acting, or meeting an obligation.
- Slow-moving; proceeding sluggishly.
- Late in developing, progressing, or maturing.
"The tardy reply prevented the committee from reaching a decision that evening."
"After a tardy entrance, he found that the lecture had already begun."
"The garden showed tardy growth because the spring had been unusually cold."
Tardy shares its Latin root with tardigrade, the famously slow-stepping “water bear” animals.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tardy come from?
Tardy entered English in the early 17th century through Middle English tardi, from Latin tardus, meaning “slow” or “late.” It originally conveyed slowness or lateness before developing its modern sense of being behind schedule or not on time. The same Latin root appears in tardigrade, formed from tardus and gradus (“step”), literally referring to a “slow-stepping” animal.
Related word forms
How tardy is actually used
Tardy is formal in register and often mildly disapproving, particularly when it describes a person’s failure to arrive or respond on time. It can sound neutral or technical when describing rates of development or movement.