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
Mr. Bailey offers practical techniques for overcoming the aversive elements of our goals, which are most likely to lead to procrastination.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 1, 2026
Perhaps procrastination is the greatest present of all.
From Barron's • Dec. 15, 2025
For some, procrastination until the precipice of death inevitably led to a rather stressful process of deathbed absolution.
From Salon • Mar. 23, 2025
General Peckem’s communications about cleanliness and procrastination made Major Major feel like a filthy procrastinator, and he always got those out of the way as quickly as he could.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
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.
