Procrastinator: meaning, definitions and examples

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procrastinator

 

[ prəˈkrastɪˌneɪtər ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

person who delays or postpones tasks

A procrastinator is someone who habitually puts off tasks and responsibilities, often opting for short-term pleasure over long-term goals. Procrastination can lead to increased stress, decreased productivity, and missed opportunities.

Synonyms

dawdler, delayer, slacker.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
procrastinator

Used to describe someone who routinely delays important tasks or decisions, often affecting their productivity or deadlines negatively. This term often has a negative connotation.

  • John is a notorious procrastinator; he always waits until the last minute to start his assignments
delayer

Describes someone who intentionally postpones or delays tasks or decisions. This word is more neutral compared to 'procrastinator' and can sometimes imply a more strategic delay rather than one caused by laziness.

  • As a strategic delayer, Mark often pauses to gather more information before making any final decisions
dawdler

Refers to someone who moves or acts slowly without any sense of urgency. This term can be used in a more casual or less critical context than 'procrastinator'.

  • Sarah is such a dawdler; she takes forever just to finish her lunch
slacker

Describes someone who consistently avoids work or effort, often viewed as lazy or unmotivated. This term carries a strong negative connotation and implies a lack of ambition.

  • Tom is considered the office slacker because he always tries to dodge his responsibilities

Examples of usage

  • The procrastinator always leaves assignments until the last minute.
  • Don't be a procrastinator, start working on your project now.

Translations

Translations of the word "procrastinator" in other languages:

🇵🇹 procrastinador

🇮🇳 टालमटोल करने वाला

🇩🇪 Zauderer

🇮🇩 penunda

🇺🇦 прокрастинатор

🇵🇱 prokrastynator

🇯🇵 先延ばしにする人

🇫🇷 procrastinateur

🇪🇸 procrastinador

🇹🇷 erteleme hastası

🇰🇷 미루는 사람

🇸🇦 مماطل

🇨🇿 prokrastinátor

🇸🇰 prokrastinátor

🇨🇳 拖延者

🇸🇮 prokrastinator

🇮🇸 dráttarseggur

🇰🇿 кешіктіруші

🇬🇪 პროკრასტინატორი

🇦🇿 təxirə salan

🇲🇽 procrastinador

Etymology

The term 'procrastinator' originates from the Latin word 'procrastinare', which means 'to put off until tomorrow'. Procrastination has been a common behavior throughout history, with famous figures like Leonardo da Vinci and Victor Hugo known for struggling with it. In modern times, the rise of distractions and time management challenges has made procrastination a prevalent issue in society.

See also: procrastinate, procrastination.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,995, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.