lagging

¹ American  

[lag-ing] / ˈlæg ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of falling or staying behind.

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adjective

1. lingering; loitering; slow and dragging.

   lagging steps.

lagging ² American  

[lag-ing] / ˈlæg ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of covering a boiler, oil tank, etc., with heat-insulating material.

2. the covering formed.

3. the material used.

4. a number of boards or the like joined together side by side to line an excavation.

5. Masonry. a number of lags, taken as a whole.

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lagging British  

/ ˈlæɡɪŋ /

noun

1. insulating material wrapped around pipes, boilers, etc, or laid in a roof loft, to prevent loss of heat

2. the act or process of applying lagging

3. a wooden frame used to support an arch during construction

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Other Word Forms

• laggingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of lagging¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; lag ¹ + -ing ¹, -ing ² ( def. )

Origin of lagging¹

First recorded in 1850–55; lag ³ + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

The question now is just how long the software sector can remain under pressure, especially given how notably it’s been lagging lately.

From MarketWatch

Ministers will say it is a once in a generation opportunity to improve cancer care in this country with survival rates lagging behind a number of wealthy countries.

From BBC

Some sectors of the economy are also still lagging behind after years of elevated inflation and borrowing costs, which has rippled down to certain types of manufacturing.

From The Wall Street Journal

But culture, more often than not, is a lagging indicator—not a driver—of economic life.

From The Wall Street Journal

The only way to guarantee not lagging the market is to own a diversified index fund.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• underdeveloped