lax

1 of 2

adjective

ˈlaks How to pronounce lax (audio)
Synonyms of laxnext
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 How to pronounce lax (audio)
noun
laxly
ˈlaks-lē How to pronounce lax (audio)
adverb
laxness noun

lax

2 of 2

noun

: lacrosse

Synonyms

Adjective

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
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
In April 2023, auditors inspected four postal facilities across South Florida and found lax security around arrow keys at three of them. —Nick Devlin, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2024 The Cyber Safety Review Board’s report, a copy of which The Post obtained before its official release, takes aim at shoddy cybersecurity practices, lax corporate culture and a deliberate lack of transparency over what Microsoft knew about the origins of the breach. —Joseph Menn, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024 Watchdog For subscribers Broken tolling software, lax oversight: A new lawsuit against SANDAG echoes audits’ critiques of its practices Dec. 3, 2023 Former finance director Lauren Warrem filed a wrongful-termination lawsuit against SANDAG in November, a case that is still pending. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024 Federal enforcement of price transparency stiffened following criticism The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has ramped up enforcement since previously coming under criticism for what some called lax enforcement of the rule. —Sarah Volpenhein, Journal Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2024 Tasked with a mandate to invigorate competition after decades of lax antitrust enforcement, regulators are taking to court to block deals. —Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 Now tens of thousands of migrants from China, Haiti, and even Russia take advantage of lax South American visa policies and this dangerous runway to make their run for our border. —Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 12 Mar. 2024 In some cases, a lack of supervision can lead to unchecked bad behavior, and depending on your team, this could lead to lower-quality work and lax attitudes toward deadlines. —Alan Price, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024 Causes include overproduction of pigmentation, lax skin, allergies and poor circulation. —Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 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

lawyer vine

lax

laxate

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Lax.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lax. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

lax

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

Medical Definition

lax

adjective
ˈlaks How to pronounce lax (audio)
1
of the bowels : loose sense 3
2
: having loose bowels

More from Merriam-Webster on lax

Nglish: Translation of lax for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of lax for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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