lax

1 of 2

adjective

1
a
of the bowels : loose, open
b
: having loose bowels
2
: deficient in firmness : not stringent
lax control
a lax foreman
security has been lax
3
a
: not tense, firm, or rigid : slack
a lax rope
b
: having an open or loose texture
a lax soil
c
: having the constituents spread apart
a lax flower cluster
4
: articulated with the muscles involved in a relatively relaxed state (such as the vowel \i\ in contrast with the vowel \ē\)
laxation noun
laxly adverb
laxness noun

lax

2 of 2

noun

Choose the Right Synonym for lax

negligent, neglectful, lax, slack, remiss mean culpably careless or indicative of such carelessness.

negligent implies inattention to one's duty or business.

negligent about writing a note of thanks

neglectful adds a more disapproving implication of laziness or deliberate inattention.

a society callously neglectful of the poor

lax implies a blameworthy lack of strictness, severity, or precision.

a reporter lax about accurate quotation

slack implies want of due or necessary diligence or care.

slack workmanship

remiss implies blameworthy carelessness shown in slackness, forgetfulness, or neglect.

had been remiss in their familial duties

Examples of lax in a Sentence

Adjective The university has been lax about enforcing these rules. lax parents who let their kids stay out as late as they want
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The daughter was not at the court hearing, but the teen's father Jim Dixon was and said he was disappointed in the lax sentencing. Sean Neumann, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024 The bank pleaded guilty to defrauding banks through its lax compliance and forfeited $2 billion. Gretchen Morgenson, NBC News, 16 Feb. 2024 But observers have asked if warning signs were missed by the authorizer in this case, and if the state is too lax on the authorizers themselves. Amelia Pak-Harvey and Mj Slaby, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Jan. 2024 The 2021 shooting resulted in a series of civil lawsuits, including wrongful death claims filed by members of Hutchins’ family, centered on accusations that the defendants were lax with safety standards. Morgan Lee, Twin Cities, 19 Jan. 2024 By 2019, though, banks had heavily monetized the practice, taking advantage of lax federal rules to rake in nearly $12 billion that year in fees, according to the CFPB. Tony Romm, Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2024 Government prosecutors had cast doubt that Marilyn Mosby, a lawyer who managed a large prosecutors office, was so lax about signing official documents. Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 6 Feb. 2024 Twenty-seven agencies in the metro have similarly lax guidelines, including Gladstone, Raytown and Olathe. Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 18 Jan. 2024 All these deaths were preventable as the inferno was the direct result of flagrantly lax safety measures. Vicki Moore, The Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lax.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Latin laxus loose — more at slack

Noun

by shortening & alteration (x as symbol for -crosse)

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lax was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near lax

Cite this Entry

“Lax.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lax. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lax

adjective
ˈlaks
1
: not firm or tight : loose
2
: not strict
laxly adverb
laxness noun

Medical Definition

lax

adjective
1
of the bowels : loose sense 3
2
: having loose bowels

More from Merriam-Webster on lax

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