# lax

/ˈɫæks/ (US) · /lˈæks/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lax
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. not strict

adjective · CEFR B2

not strict or careful enough about rules or standards.

For teachers: lenient and allowing for deviation from established rules or standards; lacking in rigour.

- The security at the stadium was very lax, so people were bringing in their own drinks.
- The company's lax attitude toward safety regulations eventually led to a series of avoidable accidents and a heavy fine from the government.

### 2. loose

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

not firm, tight, or tense.

For teachers: lacking in firmness, tension, or tightness; physically loose.

- The doctor noticed that the patient had lax muscles in his lower back.
- The rope became lax as the weight was lowered to the ground, losing the tension it had held throughout the climb.

### 3. linguistics

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

used to describe vowel sounds made with relaxed throat muscles.

For teachers: produced with relatively little muscular tension and less constriction of the vocal tract compared to tense vowels.

- The short 'i' sound in 'bit' is a lax vowel.
- Phoneticists distinguish between tense and lax vowels based on the degree of muscular effort required during articulation.

### 5. laxative

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Technical

a short word for a medicine that helps you go to the toilet.

For teachers: an informal clipping of laxative, referring to a substance used to stimulate bowel movements.

- The patient was advised to stop taking the lax once their digestion returned to normal.
- Over-reliance on a strong lax can lead to long-term digestive issues if not monitored by a healthcare professional.

## Examples

- The teacher is very lax with homework deadlines.
- Security at the old gate was lax, allowing anyone to walk in without showing an ID card.
- Critics argued that the company's lax safety standards contributed directly to the accident, suggesting a culture of negligence rather than mere oversight.

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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.