Tardy vs. Late

Tardy (adjective)

Late; overdue or delayed.

“He yawned, then raised a tardy hand over his mouth.”

Tardy (adjective)

Moving with a slow pace or motion; not swift.

Tardy (adjective)

Ineffectual; slow-witted, slow to act, or dull.

“His tardy performance bordered on incompetence.”

Tardy (adjective)

Unwary; unready (especially in the phrase take (someone) tardy).

Tardy (adjective)

Criminal; guilty.

Tardy (noun)

A piece of paper given to students who are late to class.

“The teacher gave her a tardy because she did not come into the classroom until after the bell.”

Tardy (noun)

An instance of a student being marked as tardy by a teacher in his or her attendance sheet.

Tardy (verb)

To make tardy.

Late (adjective)

Near the end of a period of time.

“It was late in the evening when we finally arrived.”

Late (adjective)

Specifically, near the end of the day.

“It was getting late and I was tired.”

Late (adjective)

Associated with the end of a period.

“Late Latin is less fully inflected than classical Latin.”

Late (adjective)

Not arriving until after an expected time.

“Even though we drove as fast as we could, we were still late.”

“Panos was so late that he arrived at the meeting after Antonio, who had the excuse of being in hospital for most of the night.”

Late (adjective)

Not having had an expected menstrual period.

“I’m late, honey. Could you buy a test?”

Late (adjective)

Deceased, dead: used particularly when speaking of the dead person’s actions while alive. the”; see usage notes.}}

“Her late husband had left her well provided for.”

“The piece was composed by the late Igor Stravinsky.”

Late (adjective)

Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now; departed, or gone out of office.

“the late bishop of London”

“the late administration”

Late (adjective)

Recent — relative to the noun it modifies.

Late (noun)

A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place late in the day or at night.

Late (adverb)

After a deadline has passed, past a designated time.

“We drove as fast as we could, but we still arrived late.”

Late (adverb)

formerly, especially in the context of service in a military unit.

“Colonel Easterwood, late of the 34th Carbines, was a guest at the dinner party.”

“The Hendersons will all be there / Late of Pablo Fanque’s Fair / What a scene!
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“— “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!”, The Beatles”