dilatory

American  

[dil-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ˈdɪl əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

adjective

1. tending to delay or procrastinate; slow; tardy.

2. intended to cause delay, gain time, or defer decision.

   a dilatory strategy.

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dilatory British  

/ -trɪ, ˈdɪlətərɪ /

adjective

1. tending or inclined to delay or waste time

2. intended or designed to waste time or defer action

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Other Word Forms

• dilatorily adverb
• dilatoriness noun
• undilatorily adverb
• undilatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of dilatory

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

Example Sentences

Public opinion has split between those who have taken the king to task for being dilatory and those who think he has played the situation correctly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

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 • Feb. 16, 2024

The BTP's review found that while no act or omission in the investigation was made maliciously, there was a "lack of professional inquisitiveness exacerbated by dilatory and lazy practices".

From BBC • Aug. 10, 2023

Gerry Adams, another key player in the 1998 talks as head of the political wing of the Irish Republican Army, said he would be "very, very dilatory about making changes to the Good Friday Agreement".

From Reuters • Apr. 3, 2023

King George was in a fury over the dilatory, cautious behavior of his general.

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes