procrastination
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of procrastination
First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin prōcrāstinātiōn-, stem of prōcrāstinātiō “a putting off until tomorrow,” equivalent to prōcrāstināt(us), past participle of prōcrāstināre “to put off until tomorrow” + -iō -ion ( def. ); see procrastinate ( def. )
Explanation
Procrastination is putting off or deferring an action (usually one we don't want to do) until a later time (usually the last minute). Activities that inspire procrastination include work, chores, studying, or anything else we don't feel like doing right now. Activities we choose in our procrastination include surfing the Internet, watching television, reorganizing our pencils, talking on the phone, or sleeping. Great synonyms for this word include dilly-dallying and shillyshally.
Vocabulary lists containing procrastination
March Vocabulary Words
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This Week in Words: November 26 - December 1, 2017
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CTE Construction ("Core Curriculum: Introductory Craft Skills,") Vocabulary from Module One
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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.
The survey finding that 35% of pre-retirees expect to need care someday while nearly half have done nothing about it reflects more than simple procrastination.
From MarketWatch • May 14, 2026
Perhaps procrastination is the greatest present of all.
From Barron's • Dec. 15, 2025
Defaults work because they harness people’s inertia, procrastination and tendency to stick with the path of least resistance, instead of requiring them to make active and often complex decisions.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 18, 2025
One is the practicality of the measure, which in theory is being dealt with by the EU but is succumbing to endless procrastination.
From BBC • Jun. 13, 2025
His procrastination would have disastrous effects, if you believe in that sort of thing, which, some days, when the old Greek blood is running high, I do.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
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.
