tardiness

American  

[tahr-dee-nis] / ˈtɑr di nɪs /

noun

1. the state or quality of being later than the usual or proper time, or an instance of this; lateness.

   Please forgive my tardiness in communicating with everyone once again.

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Etymology

Origin of tardiness

tardy ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Explanation

Tardiness is the quality of being late. When people don't show up on time, they're guilty of tardiness. When you're late for something, you're tardy, so tardiness refers to the habit of being late. Because of their tardiness, some people almost never arrive at work, school, or other places when they're expected. Tardiness is very annoying for the people waiting for the tardy person, and too much tardiness at work could get you fired. Tardiness comes from the Latin word tardus, "slow, sluggish, dull, or stupid."

Example Sentences

When Higgo finished his round at about 12:45 local time, he would have been tied at the top of the leaderboard with fellow South African Aldrich Potgieter had he not been punished for his tardiness.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

She was late so often for school that administrators said she might have to repeat some classes and asked for a doctor’s note to explain the tardiness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025

Others riffed on her well-known history of tardiness.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 8, 2025

Madonna's alleged tardiness is also the reason for a previous lawsuit filed against the singer in January.

From Salon • May 31, 2024

It might have been that my tardiness in learning to sense white people as “white” people came from the fact that many of my relatives were “white”-looking people.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright