Lax
/læks/
Definitions
2 meaningsCharacterized by a lack of strictness, severity, or control; not rigid or firm.
/læks/
Not strict or severe; lenient or permissive.
The teacher was lax in enforcing the rules, leading to a chaotic classroom.
💡 Simply: Imagine your parents are usually super strict about your bedtime, but tonight they're *lax* and let you stay up later. That's what lax means – not being so strict!
👶 For kids: When something is lax, it's not very strict or serious. Like when your parents are being a little bit too chill about your bedtime!
More Examples
The company's lax attitude toward safety caused several accidents.
Due to their lax security, the museum was an easy target for thieves.
How It's Used
"The school had a lax policy on attendance."
"Lax security measures made the company vulnerable to cyberattacks."
"If your bowels are too lax, you might have diarrhea"
Not firm or taut; relaxed, especially of muscles or tissues.
/læks/
Weak; lacking in firmness or tautness.
After the injury, her knee felt lax and unstable.
💡 Simply: If you're feeling *lax* in your body, you might feel relaxed or floppy, like when you're stretching.
👶 For kids: If something is lax, it's not tight or strong, it's kind of floppy, like a loose rubber band.
More Examples
The lax fibers meant the fabric stretched easily.
The old, lax rope snapped under pressure.
How It's Used
"The lax muscles contributed to her back pain."
"The rope was lax and didn't support much weight."
From Latin *laxus*, meaning 'loose, slack'. It entered English in the 15th century.
Used since the 15th century, originally referring to looseness or slackness.
Memory tip
Think of a *lax* bungee cord: it's not tight, it's loose.
Word Origin
"loose, slack"