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Tardiness - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Tardiness is the habit of being late or delayed, especially for appointments, work, or school. It often implies a lack of punctuality and can disrupt schedules.

tardiness

/ˈtɑrdinəs/ /ˈtɑːdɪnəs/

Definition:

The quality of being late or delayed, often habitually.

Synonyms:

lateness, delay, sluggishness, procrastination

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

punctuality, promptness

Common Collocations:

chronic tardiness, habitual tardiness, excuse for tardiness

Derivatives:

tardy, tardily

Usage Tips:

Use "tardiness" to describe habitual lateness, not just occasional delays.

Common Phrases:

fashionably late, better late than never, running behind schedule

Etymology:

Derived from Latin "tardus" (slow) via Old French "tardif."

Examples:

  • 1. Her tardiness annoyed her teacher.
  • 2. The meeting started late due to his tardiness.
  • 3. Tardiness is unacceptable in this workplace.
  • 4. She apologized for her constant tardiness to class.

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