LAGGARD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does laggard mean? 

• LAGGARD (noun)
  The noun LAGGARD has 1 sense:

1. someone who takes more time than necessary; someone who lags behind

  Familiarity information: LAGGARD used as a noun is very rare.

• LAGGARD (adjective)
  The adjective LAGGARD has 1 sense:

1. wasting time

  Familiarity information: LAGGARD used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LAGGARD (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Someone who takes more time than necessary; someone who lags behind

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

dawdler; drone; laggard; lagger; poke; trailer

Hypernyms ("laggard" is a kind of...):

bum; do-nothing; idler; layabout; loafer (person who does no work)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "laggard"):

lingerer; loiterer (someone who lingers aimlessly in or about a place)

plodder; slowcoach; slowpoke; stick-in-the-mud (someone who moves slowly)

potterer; putterer (a person who putters about)

straggler; strayer (someone who strays or falls behind)

Derivation:

lag (hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc.)

• LAGGARD (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Wasting time

Synonyms:

dilatory; laggard; pokey; poky

Similar:

slow (not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time)

 Context examples 

Out upon you all, as a set of laggards and hang-backs!

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“By my soul! John,” said the prince, “I have never known you turn laggard before.”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Close behind the pack rode a fourrier and a yeoman-pricker, whooping on the laggards and encouraging the leaders, in the shrill half-French jargon which was the language of venery and woodcraft.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

By St. Paul! it is not they who carry the breach who are wont to sack the town, but the laggard knaves who come crowding in when a way has been cleared for them.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)