lagging

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A prison sentence, originally one of at least three years.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Whether you'll get a nine or a lagging depends on the answer you give me, Mrs. Inglethorne.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “lagging” mean?

A prison sentence, originally one of at least three years.

Is “lagging” formal or informal?

lagging is generally slang.