lax

1 of 2

adjective

ˈlaks 

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

lak-ˈsā-shən 

noun

laxly

ˈlaks-lē 

adverb

laxness noun

lax

2 of 2

noun

: lacrosse

Synonyms of lax

Adjective

• careless
• neglectful
• lazy
• neglecting
• negligent

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 delivery driver walked past deputies stationed at the scene, prompting outcry about potential contamination and the lax security at the crime scene. —Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026

Child-care fraud in Minnesota is one of many examples, and Minnesota is only one of many states with lax control of welfare spending. —Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026

Besides criticism of Grok's lax safety guardrails, driver distractibility remains a point of concern. —Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026

Coppola, the head-of-table colossus, was fearless and senseless, a beautiful wreck, as lax with details as he was committed to art. —Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026

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

Rhymes for lax

• axe
• backs
• blacks
• cracks
• fax
• flax
• hacks
• jacks
• knacks
• lacks
• lakhs
• macs

Kids Definition

lax

adjective

ˈlaks

1

: not firm or tight : loose

2

: not strict

laxly adverb

laxness noun

Medical Definition

lax

adjective

ˈlaks 

1

of the bowels : loose sense 3

2

: having loose bowels