Tardiness: meaning, definitions and examples

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tardiness

 

[ˈtɑːrdiˌnəs ]

Definition

Context #1 | Noun

being late for something

Tardiness refers to the habit of being late or delayed. It is the quality or state of being slow in action or response. It can also indicate a lack of punctuality or timeliness.

Synonyms

delay, lateness, punctuality.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
tardiness

Tardiness refers specifically to being late, especially habitually, in contexts such as work, school, or meetings. It often carries a negative connotation because it implies a repeated or careless behavior.

  • Her constant tardiness led to a serious discussion with her manager.
  • The school has a strict policy against student tardiness.
lateness

Lateness is a general term for arriving or happening after the expected time. It is often used in less formal contexts and can describe both occasional and habitual behavior.

  • His frequent lateness was starting to annoy his friends.
  • The teacher marked her as late because she arrived after the bell.
delay

Delay refers to the act of causing something to happen at a later time than planned. It can be used in various contexts, such as transportation, project deadlines, or personal schedules. Delay doesn't necessarily imply a habitual behavior and can be caused by external factors.

  • The flight experienced a two-hour delay due to bad weather.
  • There was a delay in the delivery of the package.
punctuality

Punctuality refers to the habit of being on time. It is often used in a positive context to describe someone who consistently arrives or completes tasks on schedule.

  • Punctuality is highly valued in this company.
  • His punctuality makes him a reliable team member.

Examples of usage

  • Her constant tardiness to meetings is starting to affect the productivity of the team.
  • The teacher warned the students that tardiness would not be tolerated in his class.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word 'tardiness' comes from the Latin word 'tardus', which means slow or late.
  • It has been used in English since the late 19th century to describe the quality of being late.

Education

  • Tardiness can impact academic performance, as being late to class may lead to missing important information.
  • Many schools have policies that address tardiness, including consequences like detentions or extra assignments to encourage punctuality.

Psychology

  • Research suggests that habitual tardiness may be linked to underlying issues like time management skills or emotional factors such as anxiety.
  • Some studies indicate that being late can affect relationships, as it may lead others to feel disrespected or undervalued.

Pop Culture

  • Tardiness is a common trope in films and TV shows, often used for comedic effect when a character arrives late to a critical moment.
  • In the world of memes, being 'fashionably late' has become a humorous term to describe someone who shows up late but in a stylish way.

Workplace Behavior

  • In professional settings, chronic tardiness can affect job performance and perceptions of reliability among colleagues.
  • Companies often implement punctuality policies to promote professionalism and efficiency among employees.

Translations

Translations of the word "tardiness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 atraso

🇮🇳 विलंब

🇩🇪 Verspätung

🇮🇩 keterlambatan

🇺🇦 запізнення

🇵🇱 spóźnienie

🇯🇵 遅刻 (ちこく)

🇫🇷 retard

🇪🇸 retraso

🇹🇷 gecikme

🇰🇷 지각 (遲刻)

🇸🇦 تأخير

🇨🇿 zpoždění

🇸🇰 oneskorenie

🇨🇳 迟到 (chídào)

🇸🇮 zamuda

🇮🇸 seinkun

🇰🇿 кешігу

🇬🇪 გვიანობა

🇦🇿 gecikmə

🇲🇽 retraso

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,576, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.