dilatory

[ dil-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]

adjective

1. tending to delay or procrastinate; slow; tardy.
2. intended to cause delay, gain time, or defer decision:

   a dilatory strategy.

dilatory

/ -trɪ; ˈdɪlətərɪ /

adjective

1. tending or inclined to delay or waste time
2. intended or designed to waste time or defer action

Derived Forms

• ˈdilatoriness, noun
• ˈdilatorily, adverb

Other Words From

• dila·tori·ly adverb
• dila·tori·ness noun
• un·dila·tori·ly adverb
• un·dila·tory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dilatory¹

1250–1300; Middle English (< Anglo-French ) < Latin dīlātōrius, equivalent to dīlā-, suppletive stem of differre to postpone ( differ ) + -tōrius -tory ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of dilatory¹

C15: from Late Latin dīlātōrius inclined to delay, from differre to postpone; see differ

Example Sentences

"Mr Trump's current situation is a result of his own dilatory actions," he wrote.

From BBC

In early February, after Harvard’s first round of submissions, Representative Foxx accused it of a “limited and dilatory” response.

From New York Times

When there is a claim, however frivolous and intentionally dilatory, it must receive the same slow service as every other claim at the courthouse window.

From Salon

Representative Virginia Foxx, a Republican of North Carolina, said Harvard was providing a “limited and dilatory” response to her investigation of the school’s handling of alleged campus antisemitism.

From New York Times

The dilatory arming of Ukraine allowed Russia to harden its defenses in the occupied territories.

From Seattle Times