adj · name · noun · verb · 11 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈtɑːdi/
General-American:/ˈtɑɹdi/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɑː(ɹ)di
CMU ARPABET:T AA1 R D IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Late; overdue or delayed.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
He yawned, then raised a tardy hand over his mouth.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Moving with a slow pace or motion; not swift.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Ineffectual; slow-witted, slow to act, or dull.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
His tardy performance bordered on incompetence.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Unwary; unready (especially in the phrase take (someone) tardy).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adj
Meaning 5
Criminal; guilty.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
name
Meaning 6
A surname.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
A piece of paper given to students who are late to class.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US
Examples
The teacher gave her a tardy because she did not come into the classroom until after the bell.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
An instance of a student's being marked as tardy by a teacher on the teacher's attendance sheet.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
verb
Meaning 9
To make tardy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
verb
Meaning 10
To dawdle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, rare
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
adjective satellite
Meaning 11
after the expected or usual time; delayed
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a belated birthday card
I'm late for the plane
the train is late
tardy children are sent to the principal
always tardy in making dental appointments
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: belated, late
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From an earlier tardive, from French tardif, from Late Latin tardīvus, from Latin tardus (“slow”, “sluggish”), of obscure origin.
Across languages
Translations
48 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
закъснял
(zakǎsnjal)
— later in relation to the proper time
Czech:
opožděný
— later in relation to the proper time
Czech:
pozdní
— later in relation to the proper time
Dutch:
te laat
— later in relation to the proper time
Estonian:
viivitunud
— later in relation to the proper time
French:
tardif
— later in relation to the proper time
French:
en retard
— later in relation to the proper time
Galician:
serodio
— later in relation to the proper time
German:
verspätet
— later in relation to the proper time
Hungarian:
megkésett
— later in relation to the proper time
Italian:
tardivo
— later in relation to the proper time
Japanese:
遅刻
(chikoku)
— later in relation to the proper time
Northern Mansi:
юв-хультум
(ûv-hulʹtum)
— later in relation to the proper time
Portuguese:
tardio
— later in relation to the proper time
Romanian:
tardiv
— later in relation to the proper time
Romanian:
întârziat
— later in relation to the proper time
Russian:
запозда́лый
(zapozdályj)
— later in relation to the proper time
Scottish Gaelic:
deireannach
— later in relation to the proper time
Spanish:
tardo
— later in relation to the proper time
Spanish:
tardío
— later in relation to the proper time
Spanish:
moroso
— later in relation to the proper time
Spanish:
tardón
— later in relation to the proper time
Spanish:
pigre
— later in relation to the proper time
Swedish:
försenad
— later in relation to the proper time
Swedish:
sen
— later in relation to the proper time
Tagalog:
gutoy
— later in relation to the proper time
Turkish:
gecikmiş
— later in relation to the proper time
Turkish:
geç
— later in relation to the proper time
Bulgarian:
изоставащ
(izostavašt)
— ineffectual; slow witted, slow to act, or dull
Czech:
pomalý
— ineffectual; slow witted, slow to act, or dull
Czech:
liknavý
— ineffectual; slow witted, slow to act, or dull
Czech:
zpomalený
— ineffectual; slow witted, slow to act, or dull
Dutch:
dom, lanzaam reagerend
— ineffectual; slow witted, slow to act, or dull
French:
lent
— ineffectual; slow witted, slow to act, or dull
French:
long à la détente
— ineffectual; slow witted, slow to act, or dull
German:
langsam
— ineffectual; slow witted, slow to act, or dull
German:
säumig
— ineffectual; slow witted, slow to act, or dull
Japanese:
遅い
(osoi)
— ineffectual; slow witted, slow to act, or dull
Japanese:
鈍い
(nibui)
— ineffectual; slow witted, slow to act, or dull
Russian:
медли́тельный
(medlítelʹnyj)
— ineffectual; slow witted, slow to act, or dull
Sanskrit:
मन्दर
(mandara)
— ineffectual; slow witted, slow to act, or dull
Spanish:
tardo
— ineffectual; slow witted, slow to act, or dull
Spanish:
tardinero
— ineffectual; slow witted, slow to act, or dull
Spanish:
flemático
— ineffectual; slow witted, slow to act, or dull
Spanish:
parsimonioso
— ineffectual; slow witted, slow to act, or dull
Spanish:
tardón
— ineffectual; slow witted, slow to act, or dull
Turkish:
ağırdan alan
— ineffectual; slow witted, slow to act, or dull
Turkish:
yavaş
— ineffectual; slow witted, slow to act, or dull