laissez-faire
Laissez-faire (noun) means the principle that governments should interfere as little as possible in business and the economy, leaving markets to regulate themselves. Example: “Nineteenth-century laissez-faire left factory conditions almost entirely unpoliced.”
How to use laissez-faire
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLeaving people alone to get on with it instead of stepping in.
Formal in the economic sense, neutral in the everyday one. Usually hyphenated in English and no longer italicised.
Keep the z: laissez, not laisser, in the English spelling, and pronounce it roughly less-ay fair.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
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Nineteenth-century _____ left factory conditions almost entirely unpoliced.
Etymology
From French laissez faire, "let (them) do" — from a longer phrase urging governments to leave commerce alone.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for laissez-faire
See all rhymes for laissez-faire →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between laissez-faire and libertarianism?
Laissez-faire is a specific position about economic policy: keep the state out of markets. Libertarianism is a broader political philosophy that extends minimal state interference to personal life, speech and civil liberties as well. All libertarians favour laissez-faire economics, but not everyone who does is a libertarian.
What is laissez-faire leadership?
It is a style in which the manager sets the goal, supplies resources and then leaves the team to decide how to work. It suits experienced, self-directed people and tends to fail with those who need structure or feedback.
Is laissez-faire the same as doing nothing?
Not quite. Laissez-faire is a deliberate choice not to intervene, on the belief that the outcome will be better without interference. Simple neglect involves no such judgement, though critics argue the results can look identical.
What is the meaning of laissez-faire?
"laissez-faire" (noun) means the principle that governments should interfere as little as possible in business and the economy, leaving markets to regulate themselves.