lax

adjective

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\ 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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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 One is that domestic competition has been weakened by lax antitrust enforcement, anticompetitive practices and regulatory changes friendly to powerful firms. — The Economist, "Are anti-competitive firms killing American innovation?," 12 Dec. 2019 Nevada has an urban-rural divide and a libertarian tradition that manifests in its lax approach to gun laws, said Michael Green, a professor of history at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. — Matthias Gafni, SFChronicle.com, "Gilroy shooting shows how California’s gun laws are undermined by its neighbors," 29 July 2019 Energy experts doubt that Trump’s more lax approach will reverse the coal industry’s decline. — Anna M. Phillips, latimes.com, "Trump moves to gut Obama climate policy and bolster the coal industry," 19 June 2019 Media analysts have argued that Facebook's reaction to claims of anti-conservative bias led the company to take a more lax approach to the Russian disinformation campaign. — Hamza Shaban, chicagotribune.com, "Facebook is shutting down its troubled 'trending' feature," 1 June 2018 Limited factory oversight and lax regulations allow these issues to persist and can make change seem insurmountable. — Vogue, "Alberta Ferretti Photographed Fashionable Mothers and Their Children for Her New Sustainable Collection With Eco-Age," 9 Dec. 2019 Arizona takes some blame Arizona's role in welcoming self-driving vehicles and lax regulation of them was a focus of Tuesday's hearing. — Ryan Randazzo, azcentral, "Driver mostly to blame for fatal self-driving Uber crash, federal safety board finds," 19 Nov. 2019 With more lax regulations in place, the county expects to bring in 1,135 of them in the next decade, compared with the 227 that have been permitted in the last 20 years. — Caroline Glenn, orlandosentinel.com, "Orange County task force calls for $160 million affordable housing fund," 15 Nov. 2019 Chinese officials deny that, blaming greedy pharmaceutical companies, lax regulation, and out-of-control demand as the reasons America has an opioid abuse crisis. — Washington Post, "China sentences 3 in fentanyl trafficking case after US tip," 7 Nov. 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.