dilatory

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UK/ˈdɪlət(ə)ɹi/rare/daɪˈleɪt(ə)ɹi/US/ˈdɪləˌtɔɹi/

adjective

Intentionally delaying (someone or something), intended to cause delay, gain time, or adjourn decision.

“a dilatory strategy”

Similar
laggardpokypokeyslow
OriginMiddle English dilatorie ← Old French dilatoire ← Latin dīlātōrius →
UncommonScrabble 12
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Meanings

adjectivedilatory (not comparable)
  1. not comparableIntentionally delaying (someone or something), intended to cause delay, gain time, or adjourn decision.

    a dilatory strategy

    1 more example

    Alva, as usual, brought his dilatory policy to bear upon his adversary with great effect.

    1856, John Lothrop Motley, The Rise of the Dutch Republic. A History. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC
  2. not comparableSlow or tardy.
adjectivedilatory (not comparable)
  1. not comparableRelating to dilation; dilative.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivewasting time

Similar
laggardpokypokeyslow
Also see
delayfuldilatatorydreichlaggardpokeypokyslow

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latindīlātōrius“extending or putting off (time)”
  2. Old Frenchdilatoire
  3. Middle Englishdilatorie
  4. Englishdilatory

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 words from Middle English, Old French, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian отлагащ, бавен
  • отлагащ (otlagašt)intentionally delaying
  • бавен (baven)slow or tardy
  • муден (muden)slow or tardy
French dilatoire
  • dilatoireintentionally delaying
German aufschiebend, dilatorisch
  • aufschiebendintentionally delaying
  • dilatorischintentionally delaying
  • verspätetintentionally delaying
  • langsamslow or tardy
  • zögerndslow or tardy
Irish leadránach
  • leadránachintentionally delaying
Māori autō, tume
  • autōslow or tardy
  • tumeslow or tardy
  • hāmureslow or tardy
  • māngaingaislow or tardy
Russian откладывающий, оттягивающий
  • откладывающий (otkladyvajuščij)intentionally delaying
  • оттягивающий (ottjagivajuščij)intentionally delaying
  • выжидательный (vyžidatelʹnyj)intentionally delaying
  • медлительный (medlitelʹnyj)slow or tardy
  • нерасторопный (nerastoropnyj)slow or tardy
Scottish Gaelic deireannach
  • deireannachslow or tardy
Swedish förhalande, slö
  • förhalandeintentionally delaying
  • slöslow or tardy
Turkish erteleyici, geciktirici
  • erteleyiciintentionally delaying
  • geciktiriciintentionally delaying
  • oyalayıcıintentionally delaying
  • ağırdan alanslow or tardy
  • üşengeçslow or tardy
  • yavaşslow or tardy

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

idolatryadroitly
Cite this entry
APA

dilatory. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dilatory

MLA

“dilatory.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dilatory. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dilatory,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dilatory.

Source: dilatory on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.