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

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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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lagging

They’re calculated from historical closing prices, which makes them lagging indicators.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

But when it comes to actual capacity, the US is ahead by a much larger margin, with China in second place and Europe lagging far behind.

From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026

In a debate earlier this week, Bass highlighted her accomplishments in paving the way for new affordable housing, while Raman asserted that housing production is still lagging and Bass isn’t doing enough.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

Stifling bureaucracy, high energy costs and a lack of innovation and investment in advanced technologies are also contributing to its lagging competitiveness.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

There were no planes spurting ahead with wounded, none lagging behind with damage.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

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