# tardy

/ˈtɑɹdi/ (US) · /tˈɑːdi/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tardy
Updated: 2026-10-13

## Definition

arriving or doing something later than the planned time. You use this word to describe someone who is late for school, work, or a meeting.

For teachers: delayed beyond the expected or proper time; late. Often used in educational or professional contexts to describe attendance or performance.

## Examples

- The student was tardy for his first class.
- The manager noted that the employee was frequently tardy, often arriving ten minutes after the morning meeting had started.
- While the report was eventually submitted, the tardy nature of the delivery meant the committee had little time to review the findings before the vote.

## Synonyms

late, unpunctual

## Antonyms

punctual, early, prompt

## Usage notes

- Typically used predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'become', or attributively before a noun.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.