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Definition of laches
laches
: negligence in the observance of duty or opportunity; specifically : undue delay in asserting a legal right or privilege
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Recent Examples of laches from the Web
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Ceglia’s attempt to get half of Facebook — a company now estimated to be worth somewhere between $55 and $85 billion — also faces the difficult problem of the doctrine of laches.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'laches'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of laches
Middle English lachesse, from Anglo-French laschesce, from lasche lax, ultimately from Latin laxare to loosen — more at lease
Law Dictionary
laches
playLegal Definition of laches
laches
1 : undue delay in asserting a right or privilege — compare statute of limitations
2a : a doctrine permitting dismissal of a suit because a plaintiff's unreasonable delay in asserting a right or privilege has been detrimental to the defendant's ability to make a defense (as by resulting in the unavailability of witnesses or evidence) a suit barred by laches b : an affirmative defense based on this doctrine
Origin and Etymology of laches
Anglo-French lachesce laschesce negligence, from Old French lasche lax, ultimately from Latin laxare to loosen, from laxus slack
Learn More about laches
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about laches
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