Word
lapse
US/ˈɫæps/
UK/lˈæps/
Definitions
01a temporary mistake
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a small, temporary mistake or a failure to remember something.
n. a temporary failure in concentration, memory, or judgement.
“A brief lapse in concentration caused the driver to miss the exit.”
“The security breach was attributed to a momentary lapse in judgement by a junior staff member who failed to follow protocol.”
02a passage of time
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a period of time that passes between two events.
n. an interval or passage of time between two specific points or occurrences.
Español:lapso
“After a lapse of several years, the two old friends finally met for coffee.”
“The significant lapse of time between the initial experiment and the publication of the results led some critics to question the data's relevance.”
03ending of a right
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Technical
n. the end of a legal right or an insurance policy because you did not use it or pay for it.
n. the termination of a right, privilege, or agreement through disuse, neglect, or the failure to meet a deadline.
“The lapse of his life insurance policy meant his family was no longer protected.”
“The failure to file the renewal paperwork resulted in the automatic lapse of the patent, allowing competitors to use the technology freely.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04to expire or end
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to stop being valid or to end because a certain time has passed.
v. to become invalid or void, typically through the passage of time or a failure to act.
“If you do not pay the fee by midnight, your membership will lapse.”
“The contract was allowed to lapse after both parties failed to reach an agreement on the new pricing structure.”
Real-World Examples
“He was later given a four-year ban, which lapsed in July this year.” “In the port city of Buenaventura, residents say the government's lapses after the deadly earthquake speak to a broader trend of mismanagement.” Etymology
From Middle French laps, from Latin lāpsus, from lābī (“to slip”). Doublet of lapsus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/lapse
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0