tardy adj. + Add to list US //ˈtɑɹdi// UK //tˈɑːdi// tardy Archaic SynonymsEtymology Synonyms belatedlateOriginLATtardus→LA-LATtardīvus→FRAtardif→ENtardy From an earlier tardive, from French tardif, from Late Latin tardīvus, from Latin tardus (“slow”, “sluggish”), of obscure origin.