tardiness

/ˈtɑrdinɪs/

/ˈtɑdinəs/

Other forms: tardinesses

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."

Definitions of tardiness

1. noun

   the quality or habit of not adhering to a correct or usual or expected time
   antonyms:

   punctuality

   the quality or habit of adhering to an appointed time

   type of:

   timing

   the time when something happens