tar ‧ dy /ˈtɑːdi $ ˈtɑːrdi/ BrE AmE adjective formal
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: tardif 'tardy' (15-16 centuries) , from Old French , from Vulgar Latin tardivus , from Latin tardus 'late' ]
1 . arriving or done late:
Do please forgive this tardy reply.
He’s been tardy three times this semester.
2 . doing something too slowly or late
tardy in
people who are tardy in paying their bills
—tardily adverb
—tardiness noun [uncountable]
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ late arriving or happening after the time that was expected or arranged:
Sorry I’m late.
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The bus was late.
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Spring seems to be very late this year.
▪ not on time not arriving or doing something at the time that was expected or arranged:
He never hands his homework in on time.
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If we don’t leave on time, we’ll miss the flight.
▪ overdue not done or happening by the expected time – used especially about payments that are late or library books that should have been returned:
Your rent is three weeks overdue.
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I had to pay a £3 fine on some overdue library books.
▪ be behind with something British English , be behind on something American English to be late in doing something that you have to do:
I can’t come out because I’m behind with my English essay.
▪ be held up to be made late for a meeting, appointment etc by something that happens, especially by bad traffic:
I was held up by a traffic jam.
▪ be delayed to be prevented from arriving, leaving, or happening at the expected time – often used about public transport:
The flight was delayed by bad weather.
▪ belated /bɪˈleɪtəd, bɪˈleɪtɪd/ given or done late – used especially about something that someone has forgotten or failed to do:
a belated birthday card
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I’m still hoping for a belated apology from him.
▪ tardy especially American English formal arriving or happening late:
a habitually tardy person
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a tardy decision
▪ be in arrears /əˈrɪəz $ əˈrɪrz/ formal to have not made one or more regular payments at the time when you should:
One in eight mortgage payers are in arrears.