laggard

基础篇：meaning: a person who makes slow progress and falls behind others

进阶篇：laggard: 可数名词，意思是“落后者”， 从动词lag (落后)衍生而来。这个词是《经济学人》的常客，可以指一个人、一个公司、一支球队、一个国家。

This cut-off contest is not for losers and laggards.  这项比赛竞争激烈，不适合失败者和落后者。

The Chinese national football team has long been a laggard, an embarrassment to many Chinese. 中国男足一直落后，让很多国人觉得非常尴尬。

《经济学人》的用例：

a）Britain's economy has gone from a leader to a laggard internationally, as GDP growth has slowed sharply. 

想表达从领头羊变成了落后者，就可以直接用： go from a leader to a laggard

b) Indeed, half a millennium ago Europe might justly have been considered a laggard. 

c) On its current path, the country will remain a growth laggard. 

这句中，注意growth 虽然是名词，但是也可以用来修饰laggard. 可以多积累这类名词作修饰语的用法。

应用篇：

1） 翻译： 这个国家的经济一度落后，不过现在已经开始迎头赶上。

Once a laggard, the economy of this country is starting to catch up.

Long a laggard, this country's economy beginning to pick up. 

[If trade or economy of a country picks up, it improves.]

2) 造句：

场景：和中国相比，美国在移动支付上比较落后。

Compare with China, the U.S. is seen as a mobile payment laggard.