straggler

American  

[strag-ler] / ˈstræg lər /

noun

1. a person or thing that lags behind others.

   We’re waiting for a few stragglers, but all entries must be in by Wednesday, March 4th.

2. a person, animal, ship, etc., that wanders around or strays from a path or course.

   The French steamer Tourny, a straggler from its convoy, was sunk by a German U-boat.

   There was a wood quail just 5 yards away on the trail, presumably a straggler from the covey.

3. one of a number of persons or things scattered thinly or at irregular intervals in space or time.

   I didn’t see too many weeds in the garden—just two or three stragglers.

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Etymology

Origin of straggler

First recorded in 1525–35; straggle ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Consumer spending data was OK, excluding cars, along with straggler earnings from the likes of FedEx and General Mills, which reported reasonable numbers.

From Barron's

Consumer spending data was OK, excluding cars, along with straggler earnings from the likes of FedEx and General Mills, which reported reasonable numbers.

From Barron's

He said it was doubtful that remaining militant stragglers had the capacity to even offer training.

From The Wall Street Journal

In fact, they immediately set themselves on the task of pleasing Carol and those like her, along with solving the riddle of their immunity, so they can absorb the stragglers into their joy amoeba.

From Salon

Equally important to economic growth are the “stragglers”: a small number of poorly performing companies that meaningfully lower a nation’s productivity.

From Barron's