If you say that a person's behaviour or a system is lax, you mean they are not careful or strict about maintaining high standards.
One of the problem areas is lax security for airport personnel.
There have been allegations from survivors that safety standards had been lax.
I was lax in my duties.
Synonyms: slack, casual, careless, sloppy [informal] More Synonyms of lax
laxityuncountable noun
The laxity of export control authorities has made a significant contribution to theproblem. [+ of]
Synonyms: slackness, neglect, negligence, carelessness More Synonyms of lax
More Synonyms of lax
lax in British English1
(læks)
adjective
1.
lacking firmness; not strict
2.
lacking precision or definition
3.
not taut
4. phonetics
(of a speech sound) pronounced with little muscular effort and consequently having relatively imprecise accuracy of articulation and little temporal duration. In English the vowel i in bit is lax
5.
(of flower clusters) having loosely arranged parts
Derived forms
laxly (ˈlaxly)
adverb
laxity (ˈlaxity) or laxness (ˈlaxness)
noun
Word origin
C14 (originally used with reference to the bowels): from Latin laxus loose
lax in British English2
(læks)
verb Australian informal
short for relax
LAX in American English
Los Angeles International Airport
lax in American English
(læks)
adjective
1.
a.
loose; emptying easily
said of the bowels
b.
having lax bowels
2.
slack; of a loose texture; not rigid or tight
3.
not strict or exact; careless
lax morals
4. Botany
loose; open
said of a flower cluster
5. Phonetics
articulated with the jaw and tongue muscles relatively relaxed
said of certain vowels, as (e) and (i) see also tense1
noun
6.
a lax vowel
SIMILAR WORDS: reˈmiss
Derived forms
laxly (ˈlaxly)
adverb
laxness (ˈlaxness)
noun
Word origin
ME < L laxus < IE base *(s)lēg-, loose, lax > slack1
Examples of 'lax' in a sentence
lax
The same goes for my increasingly lax attitude outside the home.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Security was lax and there were many students in the gallery at the time.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Neither is this a story about lax gun control.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But the criteria for documentaries should be a little more lax.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Furious critics yesterday said the lax benefits system is betraying honest couples who stay together.
The Sun (2008)
Accidents do happen as a result of poor systems or a lax safety culture.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Government because of lax controls and insufficient resources to confront the fraudsters.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But ministers say the lax system means that many have wrongly been given a life onbenefits.
The Sun (2012)
But online shoppers are really lax over security.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
There will be none of the easy loans and lax risk control that have become mainstream over the past decade.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Worse still, it found a lax attitude towards enforcement of safety standards.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They point out that in America lax regulation has led to problems.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It has been attacked for lax safety standards in Alaska and for missing production targets.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Second, financial regulation was too lax.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
On balance, her ample stomach seems to suggest more impending motherhood than lax calorie control.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
After years of lax regulation, baseball has taken steps in recent years to clean up its image.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I am sick of the lax attitude towards basic manners and respect.
The Sun (2011)
The management was criticised for failing to monitor practices such as providing false information, but also for lax systems.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It seemed a bit lax.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
I was a bit lax going into the Players.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Critics have warned that the Lords' system is too lax.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
lax
British English: lax ADJECTIVE
If you say that a person's behaviour or a system is lax, you mean they are not careful or strict about maintaining high standards.
One of the problem areas is lax security for airport personnel.
American English: lax
Brazilian Portuguese: negligente
Chinese: 松懈的
European Spanish: relajado
French: laxiste
German: lax
Italian: negligente
Japanese: 手ぬるい
Korean: 허술한
European Portuguese: negligente
Latin American Spanish: laxo
Chinese translation of 'lax'
lax
(læks)
adj
[behaviour, standards]不严(嚴)格的 (bù yángé de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
lacking firmness
One of the problems is lax security for airport personnel.
Synonyms
slack
Many publishers have simply become far too slack.
casual
careless
He pleaded guilty to careless driving.
sloppy (informal)
easy-going
They have a very easy-going attitude to life.
negligent
The jury ruled that the Council had acted in a negligent manner.
lenient
The Professor takes a slightly more lenient view.
slapdash
a slapdash piece of work
neglectful
Children who are neglected tend to become neglectful parents.
slipshod
The hotel had always been run in a slipshod way.
remiss (formal)
I would be remiss if I did not do something about it.
easy-peasy (slang)
overindulgent
Opposites
severe
,
disciplined
,
strict
,
stern
,
rigid
,
stringent
,
conscientious
,
scrupulous
,
heedful
2 (adjective)
Definition
lacking firmness
exercises to improve lax muscles
Synonyms
loose
part of a campaign aimed at educating employees on the perils of loose lips
soft
She lay down on the soft, comfortable bed.
yielding
the soft yielding cushions
slack
The electronic pads work slack muscles to astounding effect.
flabby
bulging thighs and flabby stomach
flaccid
Her wrist was limp and flaccid.
Opposites
firm
,
rigid
3 (adjective)
Synonyms
vague
His answer was deliberately vague.
general
chemicals called by the general description `flavour enhancer'
broad
a broad outline of the Society's development
inaccurate
The reports were based on inaccurate information.
indefinite
The trial was adjourned for an indefinite period.
shapeless
imprecise
The charges were vague and imprecise.
inexact
Forecasting was an inexact science.
nonspecific
Additional synonyms
in the sense of broad
Definition
not detailed
a broad outline of the Society's development
Synonyms
general,
loose,
vague,
approximate,
indefinite,
ill-defined,
inexact,
nonspecific,
unspecific,
undetailed
in the sense of careless
Definition
done or acting with insufficient attention
He pleaded guilty to careless driving.
Synonyms
slapdash,
irresponsible,
sloppy (informal),
cavalier,
offhand,
neglectful,
slipshod,
lackadaisical,
inattentive,
regardless
in the sense of easy-going
Definition
relaxed in manner or attitude
They have a very easy-going attitude to life.
Synonyms
relaxed,
easy,
liberal,
calm,
flexible,
mild,
casual,
tolerant,
laid-back (informal),
indulgent,
serene,
lenient,
carefree,
placid,
unconcerned,
amenable,
permissive,
happy-go-lucky,
unhurried,
nonchalant,
insouciant,
even-tempered,
easy-peasy (slang),
chilled (informal)
Synonyms of 'lax'
lax
Explore 'lax' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of flabby
Definition
loose or limp
bulging thighs and flabby stomach
Synonyms
limp,
hanging,
loose,
slack,
unfit,
sagging,
sloppy,
baggy,
floppy,
lax,
drooping,
flaccid,
pendulous (literary),
toneless,
yielding
in the sense of flaccid
Definition
soft and limp
Her wrist was limp and flaccid.
Synonyms
limp,
soft,
weak,
loose,
slack,
lax,
drooping,
flabby,
nerveless
in the sense of general
Definition
not definite
chemicals called by the general description `flavour enhancer'
Synonyms
vague,
broad,
loose,
blanket,
sweeping,
unclear,
inaccurate,
approximate,
woolly,
indefinite,
hazy,
imprecise,
ill-defined,
inexact,
unspecific,
undetailed,
generic,
indiscriminate
in the sense of imprecise
Definition
inexact or inaccurate
The charges were vague and imprecise.
Synonyms
indefinite,
estimated,
rough,
vague,
loose,
careless,
ambiguous,
inaccurate,
sloppy (informal),
woolly,
hazy,
indeterminate,
wide of the mark,
equivocal,
ill-defined,
inexact,
inexplicit,
blurred round the edges
in the sense of inaccurate
The reports were based on inaccurate information.
Synonyms
incorrect,
wrong,
mistaken,
wild,
faulty,
careless,
unreliable,
defective,
unfaithful,
erroneous,
unsound,
imprecise,
wide of the mark,
out,
inexact,
off-base (US, Canadian, informal),
off-beam (informal),
discrepant,
way off-beam (informal),
in error
in the sense of indefinite
Definition
without exact limits
The trial was adjourned for an indefinite period.
Synonyms
uncertain,
general,
vague,
unclear,
unsettled,
loose,
unlimited,
evasive,
indeterminate,
imprecise,
undefined,
equivocal,
ill-defined,
indistinct,
undetermined,
inexact,
unfixed,
oracular
in the sense of inexact
Definition
not exact or accurate
Forecasting was an inexact science.
Synonyms
imprecise,
inaccurate,
indefinite,
indeterminate,
off,
incorrect
in the sense of lenient
Definition
tolerant, not strict or severe
The Professor takes a slightly more lenient view.
Synonyms
merciful,
sparing,
gentle,
forgiving,
kind,
tender,
mild,
tolerant,
compassionate,
clement,
indulgent,
forbearing
in the sense of neglectful
Definition
not paying enough care or attention
Children who are neglected tend to become neglectful parents.
Synonyms
careless,
indifferent,
lax,
negligent,
uncaring,
thoughtless,
heedless,
inattentive,
remiss (formal),
unmindful,
disregardful
in the sense of negligent
The jury ruled that the Council had acted in a negligent manner.
Synonyms
careless,
regardless,
slack,
thoughtless,
inadvertent,
unthinking,
forgetful,
slapdash,
neglectful,
heedless,
slipshod,
inattentive,
remiss (formal),
unmindful,
disregardful
Additional synonyms
in the sense of remiss
Definition
careless in attention to duty or responsibility
I would be remiss if I did not do something about it.
Synonyms
careless,
negligent,
neglectful,
culpable,
slow,
regardless,
slack,
indifferent,
sloppy (informal),
derelict,
lax,
delinquent (formal),
thoughtless,
tardy,
forgetful,
slapdash,
heedless,
slipshod,
lackadaisical,
inattentive,
dilatory,
slothful,
unmindful
in the sense of slapdash
Definition
careless or hasty
a slapdash piece of work
Synonyms
careless,
sloppy (informal),
hasty,
disorderly,
hurried,
last-minute,
messy,
clumsy,
negligent,
untidy,
haphazard,
perfunctory,
thoughtless,
thrown-together,
slovenly,
slipshod
in the sense of slipshod
Definition
(of an action) done in a careless way without attention to detail