How to Memorize

dilatory - slow

Analysis

Something ‘dilatory’ is intended to cause a delay. Sometimes this can be as a result of sheer ineptitude, laziness, or procrastination, other times the result of a concerted and well thought out effort to waste time. This formal word is most commonly used in a professional context, particularly with regards to business, politics, and law.

Example(s)

1. A number of necessary changes were highlighted in the report last year, but the company has been dilatory in implementing them.

2. Due to its dilatoriness at the start of the crisis, the organization squandered the opportunity to lessen its impact.

3. The political party are using dilatory tactics in order to delay the bill from being passed into law before the upcoming election.