lagging
1 Americannoun
adjective
noun
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the act of covering a boiler, oil tank, etc., with heat-insulating material.
-
the covering formed.
-
the material used.
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a number of boards or the like joined together side by side to line an excavation.
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Masonry. a number of lags, taken as a whole.
noun
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insulating material wrapped around pipes, boilers, etc, or laid in a roof loft, to prevent loss of heat
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the act or process of applying lagging
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a wooden frame used to support an arch during construction
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lagging1
First recorded in 1590–1600; lag 1 + -ing 1, -ing 2 ( def. )
Origin of lagging2
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.
Microsoft’s video game division plans to eliminate 3,200 jobs, or around 20% of its staff over the next year, as part of a sweeping reorganization to revive the company’s lagging games division.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2026
Until the railroad boom of the 18th century’s second half, the U.S. was actually lagging the U.K., owing to major panics in 1819 and 1837.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 3, 2026
In performance terms, McLaren have started the season lagging behind pace-setters Mercedes, and fluctuating between second and fourth fastest team, depending on the race.
From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026
Axon’s share price fell 6% last year, severely lagging behind the S&P 500, which analysts attributed in part to wider concerns about AI disrupting the software industry.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 28, 2026
Actually, the bookies in the cigar shops in Poughkeepsie had Cal and Washington at even money, with Cornell lagging just behind at eight to five.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
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.
