noun C1 Advanced Uncommon

lapse

laps

Lapse (noun) means a brief slip or failure, especially a temporary lowering of standards or attention. Example: “Forgetting her name was just a momentary lapse.”

noun

A brief slip or failure, especially a temporary lowering of standards or attention.

"Forgetting her name was just a momentary lapse."

"The scandal was blamed on a lapse in judgment."

The ending of a right, agreement, or membership because it was left unused or not renewed.

"His insurance policy went into lapse after he missed three payments."

verb

To slip gradually into a worse state, bad habit, or silence.

"The conversation lapsed into an awkward silence."

"He lapsed back into his old smoking habit under stress."

To become invalid because a deadline passed or it was not renewed.

"The offer will lapse if you don't respond within thirty days."

How to use lapse

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small slip-up, or a right/agreement quietly running out because nobody kept it going.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "elapse," which just means time passing (e.g. "two hours elapsed") — "lapse" implies something failed or expired.

Easily confused with

elapse collapse →

Common pairings

lapse into silence memory lapse policy lapsed a lapse in judgment

Word forms

lapsed past tense, lapses plural, lapses singular

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Forgetting her name was just a momentary _____.

Etymology

From Latin lapsus, "a slipping or falling," from labi, "to slip." A doublet of the word "lapsus."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

View more →

pass sink oversight relapse regress go by elapse lapsing slip by glide by slide by go along

Related words

go give head top clear happen die fall

Rhymes for lapse

relapse collapse

See all rhymes for lapse →

Frequently asked questions

What does “lapse” mean?

The word “lapse” means a brief slip or failure, especially a temporary lowering of standards or attention. In plain terms, a small slip-up, or a right/agreement quietly running out because nobody kept it going.

How do you pronounce “lapse”?

“Lapse” is pronounced laps (/læps/ in IPA).

How do you use “lapse” in a sentence?

Here is “lapse” used in a sentence: “Forgetting her name was just a momentary lapse.”

What part of speech is “lapse”?

Depending on how it is used, “lapse” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “lapse” come from?

The word “lapse” comes from Latin. From Latin lapsus, "a slipping or falling," from labi, "to slip." A doublet of the word "lapsus.".

Is “lapse” a common word?

“Lapse” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “lapse” have?

“Lapse” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a brief slip or failure, especially a temporary lowering of standards or attention.

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