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 lagging²

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lagging

Paulsen believes that because they have a lagging effect on economic activity and the stock market, these next two quarters may not be so positive as investors might anticipate.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026

Amid lagging sales, retailers marked down the figurines, alienating collectors who want to see items appreciate in value.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026

Ferrari have the fastest car in the corners on balance, but have been lagging on the straights so far this year.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

The momentum index has tumbled more than 9% since July 1, lagging behind the S&P 500’s 2.8% gain.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

The Horses were nearly at the end of their strength now, and Hwin, stumbling and panting, was lagging behind Bree.

From "The Horse and His Boy" by C.S. Lewis

Related Words

• underdeveloped