lax
6 synonyms and 1 antonym for lax, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Not strict or careful; loose in standards or discipline.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use lax
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
lax security
lax standards
lax discipline
Etymology
From Latin laxus, "loose, slack" — the same root that gives us "relax" and "laxative."
Full origin of lax →Frequently asked questions
What does “lax” mean?
The word “lax” means not strict or careful; loose in standards or discipline. In plain terms, loose or careless, rather than strict or tight.
How do you pronounce “lax”?
“Lax” is pronounced laks (/læks/ in IPA).
How do you use “lax” in a sentence?
Here is “lax” used in a sentence: “Security at the old warehouse was shockingly lax.”
What part of speech is “lax”?
“Lax” is an adjective.
Where does the word “lax” come from?
The word “lax” comes from Latin. From Latin laxus, "loose, slack" — the same root that gives us "relax" and "laxative.".
Is “lax” a common word?
“Lax” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “lax” have?
“Lax” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not strict or careful; loose in standards or discipline.
What is the difference between lax and strict?
Lax describes standards, discipline, or behavior that is not strict or careful, while strict describes rules or discipline that are firmly enforced; the two words are near opposites.
What is the difference between the physical and behavioral senses of lax?
Lax can describe something physically loose or not firmly stretched, such as a lax rope, or it can describe something figuratively loose, such as lax standards or lax security; both senses share the core idea of looseness.
