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

The agency's approval process for Boeing's aircraft has been criticized as lax, and members of the agency were recently grilled during a Senate hearing over that very same matter. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "Report: Ethiopian Airlines Pilots Followed Boeing's Safety Procedures But Couldn't Prevent Crash," 3 Apr. 2019 Carillion was able to hide nearly half a billion pounds in liabilities due to lax accounting rules, Moody’s Investors Service Inc. later said. — Nina Trentmann, WSJ, "U.K. Lawmakers Propose ‘Structural Break-Up’ of Big Four Accounting Firms," 2 Apr. 2019 Just this month, the attorney general of Washington, DC, filed suit against Facebook alleging the scandal had resulted from lax privacy standards. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "The Verge 2018 tech report card: Facebook," 26 Dec. 2018 Negotiated over three years during TTIP talks and signed by the U.S. the day before Mr. Trump took office, the agreement was built on a 1998 pact that U.S. regulators refused to implement due to concerns about lax standards in some EU countries. — Emre Peker, WSJ, "U.S., EU Trade Teams Seek Fast Results and Big Savings," 21 Oct. 2018 Was Grenfell a tragic accident, the product of government cost-cutting and lax safety standards, or authorities' disregard for people who lived in public housing? — Fox News, "A year on, horrific Grenfell Tower fire haunts Britain," 14 June 2018 Was Grenfell a tragic accident, the product of government cost-cutting and lax safety standards, or authorities' disregard for people who lived in public housing? — Jill Lawless, chicagotribune.com, "A year on, Grenfell Tower 'atrocity' haunts Britain," 14 June 2018 Corruption and lax fire safety standards at the Winter Cherry shopping mall may have been to blame and both relatives and locals are enraged at the response to the tragedy. — St. John Barned-smith, Houston Chronicle, "Harris County public safety agencies to receive boats to handle future flooding," 6 June 2018 For years, Tumblr had allowed communities that promoted and shared adult content freely, thanks to Tumblr’s arguably lax approach to the monitoring of adult content. — Sydney Greene, Teen Vogue, "How Tumblr's Porn Ban Could Put Sex Workers at Risk," 6 Dec. 2018

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.