lapse

20 synonyms for lapse, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

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

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

pass

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

sink oversight relapse

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

regress go by elapse lapsing slip by glide by slide by go along relapsing reversion reverting backslide fall back slip away recidivate retrogress

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

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

“Forgetting her name was just a momentary lapse.”

pass sink oversight relapse regress go by elapse lapsing slip by glide by slide by go along relapsing reversion reverting backslide fall back slip away recidivate retrogress

2. verb

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

“The conversation lapsed into an awkward silence.”

pass sink backslide elapse regress retrogress recidivate relapse

How to use lapse

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

lapse into silence memory lapse policy lapsed a lapse in judgment

Etymology

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

Full origin of 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.

Related words

lapsarian

People also searched

pass sink oversight relapse retrogress lapsing reversion regress recidivate backslide

Nearby words

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