A slowpoke is someone who moves, works, or makes decisions more slowly than others expect or want. If your family is ready to leave for the movies and you're still looking for your shoes, someone might call you a slowpoke. When your friend takes forever choosing what to order at lunch while everyone else is already eating, they're being a slowpoke.

The word is usually teasing rather than mean. It suggests mild frustration mixed with affection, like when a faster hiker waits for a slower friend on the trail. A teacher might gently call a dawdling student a slowpoke when it's time to line up for recess.

Everyone is a slowpoke sometimes. You might race through math problems but be a slowpoke at getting ready in the morning.