Dilatory: meaning, definitions and examples

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dilatory

 

[ ˈdɪl.ə.tɔːr.i ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

tendency to delay

Dilatory describes a tendency to delay or procrastinate. It refers to actions or individuals that cause an unhurried pace, often leading to the postponement of tasks or obligations.

Synonyms

laggard, procrastinating, slow, tardy

Examples of usage

  • His dilatory approach to the project frustrated his teammates.
  • The dilatory tactics employed by the defense lawyer prolonged the trial.
  • She was known for her dilatory nature when it came to submitting reports.

Translations

Translations of the word "dilatory" in other languages:

🇵🇹 dilatório

🇮🇳 विलंबी

🇩🇪 verzögernd

🇮🇩 menunda

🇺🇦 зволікальний

🇵🇱 opóźniający

🇯🇵 遅延の

🇫🇷 dilatatoire

🇪🇸 dilatatorio

🇹🇷 geciktirici

🇰🇷 지연시키는

🇸🇦 متأخر

🇨🇿 zdržující

🇸🇰 zdržujúci

🇨🇳 拖延的

🇸🇮 odlašajoč

🇮🇸 seinkandi

🇰🇿 босататын

🇬🇪 დაგვიანებული

🇦🇿 gecikdirici

🇲🇽 dilatatorio

Etymology

The word 'dilatory' traces its origins back to the Latin term 'dilatorius,' meaning 'to delay.' This Latin term is derived from 'dilator,' which is the agent noun form of the verb 'dilatare,' meaning 'to expand or prolong.' The first known use of 'dilatory' in English dates back to the early 17th century. Initially, the term was employed in legal contexts to describe delays in court proceedings or actions that were meant to stall or postpone decisions. Over time, its usage broadened to describe any tendency to be slow or to procrastinate in various contexts beyond law. Today, 'dilatory' is commonly used to characterize anything that causes delays, from personal habits to procedural matters.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #22,917, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.