lagging
lagging Lexical Profile
lagging Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Falling behind in movement, progress, development, or performance relative to others or to an expected standard.
"The company launched a new marketing campaign to boost its lagging sales in the third quarter."
In economics and statistics, denoting an indicator or variable that reflects changes only after an economic shift or trend has already taken place.
"The unemployment rate is widely regarded as a lagging indicator of overall economic recovery."
• noun
The act or process of falling behind, responding slowly, or experiencing a delay.
"Frequent lagging on the video call made it difficult for the remote team to hold a smooth discussion."
British Insulating material wrapped around pipes, boilers, or hot-water tanks to prevent heat loss or freezing.
"Fitting proper lagging around the hot-water cylinder significantly reduced the household's winter heating bills."
Heavy wooden planks, timber boards, or steel plates placed behind the main supports in a mine shaft or tunnel to hold back earth and loose rock.
"The civil engineers installed timber lagging between the steel ribs to stabilize the newly excavated tunnel walls."
Word Nuance & Usage
In economics and finance, 'lagging' (as in 'lagging indicator') refers specifically to measurable variables that change only after the broader economy has already begun to follow a particular trend, contrasting with 'leading' indicators.