adj
Uncommon
lax
laks
Lax (adj) means not strict or careful; loose in standards or discipline. Example: “Security at the old warehouse was shockingly lax.”
adj
1
Not strict or careful; loose in standards or discipline.
"Security at the old warehouse was shockingly lax."
"Her parents were fairly lax about bedtime during the holidays."
2
Not tight or firmly stretched; loose.
"The rope hung lax between the two posts."
How to use lax
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLoose or careless, rather than strict or tight.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
lax security
lax standards
lax discipline
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Word forms
- Plural
- laxes
- Comparative
- laxer
- Superlative
- laxest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Security at the old warehouse was shockingly _____.
Etymology
From Latin laxus, "loose, slack" — the same root that gives us "relax" and "laxative."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for lax
See all rhymes for 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.
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