punctuality
AmericanOther Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of punctuality
Explanation
Punctuality is the state of being prompt. You might come home from a European trip exclaiming over the punctuality of German trains, which are always on time. Punctuality is an important quality when it comes to things like public transportation and job interviews. If you're known for always showing up exactly when you say you will, people will start to depend on your punctuality. The Latin root of punctuality is punctus, a sharp point. This is why people who value punctuality will tell you to meet them at, say, six o'clock sharp, or right on the dot — in other words, at exactly the agreed-upon time.
Vocabulary lists containing punctuality
1-2-3 Scream!
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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 researchers identified one exception to the finding that replying quickly pays off: If a candidate’s response looks like it was AI-generated, the positive feelings associated with punctuality disappear.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
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
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
Tom Buckmaster is a consultant currently being paid by four primary schools in Nottinghamshire to improve attendance and punctuality levels.
From BBC ● May 5, 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
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
