punctuality

American

[puhngk-choo-al-i-tee] / ˌpʌŋk tʃuˈæl ɪ ti /

noun

the quality or state of being punctual.
strict observance in keeping engagements; promptness.

Other Word Forms

unpunctuality noun

Etymology

Origin of punctuality

First recorded in 1610–20; punctual + -ity

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.

But Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder in September pushed back a punctuality target of 70 percent for long-distance trains to 2029 from 2026.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

January is usually a good month for punctuality owing to a relative lack of maintenance and building work on the tracks.

From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026

Almost 40 percent of long-distance services arrived late last year -- not including trains that were cancelled, which are not counted in punctuality statistics.

From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026

Belfast City Airport recorded the best punctuality performance in the UK for the second year in a row, with an average delay per flight of under 12 minutes.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2025

Her hairdresser could count on absolute fidelity and punctuality.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023