dilatory
Americanadjective
-
tending to delay or procrastinate; slow; tardy.
-
intended to cause delay, gain time, or defer decision.
a dilatory strategy.
adjective
-
tending or inclined to delay or waste time
-
intended or designed to waste time or defer action
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of dilatory
1250–1300; Middle English (< Anglo-French ) < Latin dīlātōrius, equivalent to dīlā-, suppletive stem of differre to postpone ( see differ) + -tōrius -tory 1
Explanation
Something dilatory creates a delay. Remember when your math teacher asked you to work out a problem on the board and you tried to get her talking about her favorite theorems instead? That was a dilatory tactic. The adjective dilatory comes from the Latin root word dilator, a noun that means "someone who puts off things" or "a procrastinator." If you are always late to appointments, people may accuse you of being dilatory, especially if they think you don't have a good excuse.
Vocabulary lists containing dilatory
Languor Management: Synonyms for "Lazy"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
It must have slipped my mind...
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
What Was That Again? Words With Difficult-to-Remember Meanings
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Dilatory motions were granted from time to time, and it was not until the 4th of June that demurrers to the indictments were filed.
From Personal Reminiscences of Early Days in California with Other Sketches; To Which Is Added the Story of His Attempted Assassination by a Former Associate on the Supreme Bench of the State by Field, Stephen Johnson
Dilatory as Gay always was, he contrived to finish his opera by about the end of the year.
From Life And Letters Of John Gay (1685-1732) by Melville, Lewis
Dilatory motions of all kinds were in order.
From Ten Years Near the German Frontier A Retrospect and a Warning by Egan, Maurice Francis
Dilatory tactics in directing had become too fast a habit with Nolan to be broken at will, and had forced him to forego his chance at that attractive job in the East.
From Linda Lee, Incorporated A Novel by Vance, Louis Joseph
Dilatory tactics and compromises are often more dangerous than giving a little more than the least amount of treatment possible, for good measure.
From The Third Great Plague A Discussion of Syphilis for Everyday People by Stokes, John H. (John Hinchman)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
