laglag1 /læg/ verb (lagged, lagging) [intransitiveI]1COMMERCEto move, develop, or improve more slowly than othersThe sales team are lagging in their progress towards this quarter’s performance goals.
lag behindUS firms lag behind nations such as Germany in training their staff.
2ECONOMICSto change in amount or level at a later time than something elseEven after the economy begins growing, hiring new employees tends to lag.
The increase in wages lagged behind the increase in prices through much of the decade.
3FINANCEif prices of shares, traded goods, etc lag, they do not increaseWhile silver has lagged, it hasn’t been as weak as platinum.