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

What’s left is the New York court system, which has defied partisan pressure, spurned dilatory tactics, and held firm to the concept of speedy justice.

From Slate

Time may be finally running out on the filibuster, the signature dilatory tactic in the Senate embraced by some as a protector of minority rights and reviled by others as an outdated weapon of partisan obstruction.

From New York Times

"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

That plays into Trump’s dilatory desires, and not just with respect to the Florida prosecution.

From Slate