Dilatory
//ˈdɪlət(ə)ɹi// adj
adj ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
Adjective
- 1 Intentionally delaying (someone or something), intended to cause delay, gain time, or adjourn decision. not-comparable
"a dilatory strategy"
- 2 Relating to dilation; dilative. not-comparable
- 3 Slow or tardy. not-comparable
Adjective
- 1 wasting time wordnet
Example
More examples"Alva, as usual, brought his dilatory policy to bear upon his adversary with great effect."
Etymology
From Middle English dilatorie, from Old French dilatoire, from Latin dīlātōrius (“extending or putting off (time)”), from dīlātor, from differō. Not etymologically related to delay.
More for "dilatory"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.