laggard
/ˈlæɡɚd/adjective, noun
laggard is spelled L-A-G-G-A-R-D: 7 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 11 million words in written English, the 98,107th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a derogatory adjective, laggard means “Lagging behind; taking more time than the others in a group” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in laggard?
| Letters | 7: L-A-G-G-A-R-D |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 11 million words; the 98,107th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is laggard?
Laggard appears about once in every 11 million words in written English, the 98,107th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce laggard?
- UK /ˈlæɡəd/
- US /ˈlæɡɚd/
Laggard has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-laggard.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with laggard?
2 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as laggard from its last stressed vowel (/æɡəɹd/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of laggard
- more laggard comparative
- most laggard superlative
- laggards plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does laggard mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
derogatoryLagging behind; taking more time than the others in a group.
- 2
Not growing as quickly as the rest of the flock or herd.
The laggard broilers are euthanized and incinerated.
noun
- 1
One who lags behind; one who takes more time than is necessary or more than the others in a group.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Laggard in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | retardataire , traînard |
| German | Nachzügler, Bummler |
| Spanish | rezagado, rezagada |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does laggard come from?
From lag + -ard.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).