# lapse

/ˈɫæps/ (US) · /lˈæps/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lapse
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a temporary mistake

noun · CEFR B2

a small, temporary mistake or a failure to remember something.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. a passage of time

noun · CEFR B2

a period of time that passes between two events.

For teachers: an interval or passage of time between two specific points or occurrences.

- 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.

### 3. ending of a right

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the end of a legal right or an insurance policy because you did not use it or pay for it.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. to expire or end

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to stop being valid or to end because a certain time has passed.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- A brief lapse in concentration caused the driver to miss the turn.
- The insurance policy was cancelled after a lapse in monthly payments led to a breach of contract.
- Despite his otherwise impeccable record, a single lapse of judgement during the final negotiations cost the firm its most lucrative partnership of the decade.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.