ドタキャン

どたきゃん
noun / suru verb
last-minute cancellation
1. last-minute cancellation
To cancel plans at the very last moment, often considered rude or inconsiderate.
ドタキャンされた。
They canceled on me at the last minute.
ドタキャンはやめてほしい。
I wish they'd stop canceling at the last minute.
約束(やくそく)をドタキャンするのは失礼(しつれい)だ。
It's rude to cancel plans at the last minute.

ドタキャン is a contraction of 土壇場(どたんば) (the last moment) + キャンセル (cancel). It specifically refers to cancellations made so late that it causes inconvenience.

REGISTER:
This is casual slang. In formal contexts, use 直前(ちょくぜん)のキャンセル or (きゅう)なキャンセル.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • ドタキャンする: to cancel at the last minute
  • ドタキャンされる: to be canceled on last minute
  • ドタキャン(): someone who habitually cancels last minute