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Belated vs Tardy - What's the difference?

belated | tardy | Synonyms |

Tardy is a synonym of belated.



As verbs the difference between belated and tardy

is that belated is past tense of belate while tardy is to make tardy.

As adjectives the difference between belated and tardy

is that belated is later in relation to the proper time something should have happened while tardy is late; overdue or delayed.

As a noun tardy is

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

belated

English

Verb

(head)
  • (belate)

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Later in relation to the proper time something should have happened.
    • Happy belated birthday!
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=June 19 , author=Phil McNulty , title=England 1-0 Ukraine , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=England manager Roy Hodgson instantly restored Rooney after a two-match suspension in place of Andy Carroll with orders to make a belated mark on the campaign after sitting out the draw against France and victory against Sweden.}}

    Synonyms

    * tardy * late * overdue

    Derived terms

    *

    Anagrams

    *

    tardy

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Late; overdue or delayed.
    • He yawned, then raised a tardy hand over his mouth.
  • ineffectual; slow-witted, slow to act, or dullard.
    • His tardy performance bordered on incompetence.
  • Moving with a slow pace or motion; not swift.
  • * Sandys
    • Check the tardy flight of time.
  • * Prior
    • tardy to vengeance, and with mercy brave
  • (obsolete) Unwary; unready.
    • (Hudibras)
  • (obsolete) Criminal; guilty.
    • (Collier)

    Synonyms

    * (l), (l)

    Usage notes

    * The term suggests habitual lateness. * Somewhat dated in the United Kingdom.

    Noun

    (tardies)
  • (US) 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.

    See also

    * tardy slip

    Verb

  • (obsolete) To make tardy.
    • (Shakespeare)