unpunctuality

She apologizes for her unpunctuality at the meeting.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The quality or habit of not being on time: "unpunctuality" refers to the failure to arrive or complete something at the expected or scheduled time.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • His constant unpunctuality made him unreliable in the eyes of his colleagues. (His habit of being late damaged his reputation.)
  • The teacher warned the student that repeated unpunctuality would affect his grade. (Being late often would have consequences.)

Advanced Usage

• "chronic unpunctuality": a persistent and long-standing pattern of being late.

  • Her chronic unpunctuality caused her to miss several important meetings. (Her consistent lateness was a serious problem.)

• "unpunctuality as a cultural trait": the idea that lateness is a social norm in some cultures.

  • In some countries, unpunctuality is not seen as rude but as a relaxed approach to time. (Lateness is acceptable in certain social contexts.)

Variants and Related Words

• Unpunctual (adj): not arriving or happening at the expected time.

  • The unpunctual train caused many passengers to be late for work. (The train was not on schedule.)

• Punctuality (n): the quality of being on time (the opposite of unpunctuality).

  • Punctuality is a valued trait in many professional settings. (Being on time is important.)

Synonyms

• Tardiness: the quality of being late or delayed.

  • His tardiness at school was noted by the principal. (His lateness was recorded.)

• Lateness: the state of arriving or happening after the expected time.

  • The lateness of the delivery was unacceptable. (The delay was not acceptable.)

Related Idioms

• "Better late than never": a saying that suggests it is better to arrive late than not to arrive at all (often used to excuse unpunctuality).

  • He arrived an hour late, but his boss said, "Better late than never." (The boss accepted the lateness as still better than absence.)

• "Fashionably late": arriving late in a way that is considered stylish or acceptable in social situations (a euphemism for unpunctuality).

  • She always arrives fashionably late to parties, making an entrance. (She is late but it is seen as charming.)