rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryprocrastinationUnnecessary delay
noun

procrastination

pruh-kras-tih-NAY-shuhn/prəˌkræstɪˈneɪʃn/

The act or habit of putting off tasks unnecessarily.

His procrastination leaves paperwork unfinished while he scrolls.

Repeated unfinished paperwork accumulates while worker idly scrolls.
Etymology
proLatinforward
+crastinLatinbelonging to tomorrow
+ationLatinaction or process

Moving something forward into tomorrow becomes, in the Latin action noun, 'putting off from day to day.' That repeated postponement captures the modern habit of delaying tasks.

In context

The Diary Of A CEO58:41
that essay feels like Mount Everest. You don't know where to start. You're not well researched on it. So you clean the house instead. And so procrastination is the avoidance of psychological discomfort.
Secret Agent: Authenticity Is Quietly Sabotaging You! Do This & They'll Stop Respecting You!

More examples

  • She tried to break her habit of procrastination.
  • The delay came from procrastination rather than a lack of information.
  • A clear schedule helped reduce procrastination.

Forms

procrastination

procrastinate verb — put off tasks unnecessarily

Similar words

delay
Delay can be necessary or imposed; procrastination unnecessarily postpones what should be done.
dawdling
Dawdling wastes time slowly; procrastination can avoid starting a task altogether.