Definition of "dilatory" [dil•a•to•ry]

• Intended to delay. (adjective)
• Tending to postpone or delay: dilatory in his work habits. See Synonyms at slow. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "There is a questionable sort of beginning, which might be called dilatory, that consists in carrying the literary aspect of the essential facts to the extreme, and making them occupy a deal more valuable space than is rightly theirs."
• "The Senate, by precedent, has ruled such quorum calls dilatory, after cloture."
• "Gingrich branded the amendment strategy "dilatory" about the nicest thing he said about Democrats."