lax

adjective

\ ˈlaks

Definition of lax

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a of the bowels : loose, open

b : having loose bowels

2 : deficient in firmness : not stringent lax control a lax foreman security has been lax

3a : 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\)

lax

noun

Definition of lax (Entry 2 of 2)

: lacrosse

Other Words from lax Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about lax

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Other Words from lax

Adjective

laxation \ lak-ˈsā-shən

\ noun

laxly \ ˈlaks-lē

\ adverb

laxness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for lax

Adjective

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

Wall Street’s main overseer approved new conflict-of-interest rules for brokers, a sweeping regulatory overhaul that has drawn criticism from investor advocates for being too lax. — latimes.com, "SEC says securities brokers must act in clients’ interest. Is it an improvement?," 5 June 2019 Regulation of professional products is stunningly lax, as companies are not required to list their ingredients on those safety data sheets. — Longreads, "True Roots," 5 June 2019 Apple also introduced a variety of privacy-first tools meant to differentiate itself from Google and Facebook, which tend to be a bit more lax with user privacy. — Daisy Hernandez, Popular Mechanics, "Everything You Need To Know From Apple's WWDC Keynote," 3 June 2019 Michael Schoellhorn told reporters Tuesday, adding that oversight of Airbus wasn’t lax. — Robert Wall, WSJ, "Airbus Foresees More Regulatory Scrutiny After Boeing’s 737 MAX Crashes," 21 May 2019 Las Vegas was notoriously lax during the Prohibition, but a secret bar, away from the glitz and hustle of The Strip, is more appealing now than ever. — Olivia Martin, Town & Country, "The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails Opens at the Cosmopolitan," 20 Mar. 2019 The trouble can range from falsehoods spread on social media, to lax laws, to tailoring messages for a wide range of audiences. — Ryan Blethen, The Seattle Times, "How do you persuade people to vaccinate? Clark County measles outbreak highlights the difficulties," 13 Apr. 2019 His parents were lax in the manners department, so Dickie earned a reputation as the loud, spoiled neighborhood brat. — Brendan Kiley, The Seattle Times, "Seattle-based Patriotic Christians for a Better America spreads anti-Trump gospel with cartoons," 26 Mar. 2019 President Trump and numerous administration officials have said lax asylum laws have encouraged migrants by the thousands to come to the U.S. illegally, but the administration has faced setbacks in attempts to limit asylum seekers. — Jennifer Levitz, WSJ, "Maine’s Largest City Strains Under Asylum-Seeker Influx," 27 Jan. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lax.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.