dilatory
DIL-uh-tor-ee
/ˈdɪlətəri/
Slow to act, or intended to cause delay or gain time.
Often describes tactics or procedural habits intended deliberately to stall progress.
The story behind the word. From Late Latin 'dilatorius', stemming from 'differre' (to carry apart, delay). The term entered Late Middle English as a legal designation for motions or pleas that delayed a formal court proceeding.
Word relationships
- stalling: Stalling is informal and direct; dilatory is formal and frequently used in legal or official contexts.
- tardy: Tardy simply means late; dilatory implies a tendency or strategy causing delay.
- prompt: Prompt means done immediately without delay.
- expeditious: Expeditious means performed with speed and efficiency.
Commonly confused with
- dilated: Dilated means widened or expanded (like pupils); dilatory means causing delay.
Word family
- dilatoriness (noun): Slowness or the practice of delaying.
Collocations
- dilatory tactics
- dilatory response
- dilatory measures
Idioms & expressions
- play for time
- drag one's feet
Example sentences
- "The defense attorney used dilatory tactics to postpone the trial date." Legal proceeding
- "The agency was criticized for its dilatory response to urgent customer complaints." Corporate policy
Memory hook
DILATORY: DELAY-tory tactics used to stretch out time. Delaying tactics in court.
When not to use
Do not use to describe general physical tiredness.
Fun facts
- In legal terminology, a 'dilatory plea' is a formal objection that delays trial without addressing the core facts.
Related words
Explore more words
stall, deliberative, dawdle, deliberate, filibuster, Circumlocutory
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