2
: deficient in firmness : not stringent
lax control
a lax foreman
security has been lax
3
a
: not tense, firm, or rigid : slack
a lax rope
b
: having an open or loose texture
a lax soil
c
: having the constituents spread apart
a lax flower cluster
4
: articulated with the muscles involved in a relatively relaxed state (such as the vowel \i\ in contrast with the vowel \ē\)
Examples of lax in a Sentence
Adjective
The university has been lax about enforcing these rules.
lax parents who let their kids stay out as late as they want
Recent Examples on the Web
Tracy Wright, Fox News, 9 Mar. 2025
Those findings echoed a November report by the Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller that found lax accounting procedures resulted in the failure to reclaim millions of dollars in cash advances to contractors and to pay other contractors on time, even when funds were available.
—Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025
The decision to take back animal control comes as complaints from residents about what some consider lax enforcement of the city’s animal welfare ordinances continue to mount.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2025
These lax financial controls result in questionable transactions like the one recently uncovered and reported by the new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin.
—John Griggs, The Denver Post, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lax
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Social media users were not happy and blasted the royal couple for taking a lax approach to water safety while boating.
—Tracy Wright, Fox News, 9 Mar. 2025
Those findings echoed a November report by the Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller that found lax accounting procedures resulted in the failure to reclaim millions of dollars in cash advances to contractors and to pay other contractors on time, even when funds were available.
—Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025
The decision to take back animal control comes as complaints from residents about what some consider lax enforcement of the city’s animal welfare ordinances continue to mount.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2025
These lax financial controls result in questionable transactions like the one recently uncovered and reported by the new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin.
—John Griggs, The Denver Post, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lax
Cite this Entry
“Lax.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lax. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
lax
adjective1
of the bowels
: loose sense 3
2
: having loose bowels
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share