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
Alex Vakulov, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
Laptops, printers and other tech gadgets have been disappearing from Broward schools, in part due to lax controls during the COVID-19 pandemic, recent audits state.
—Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2025
The risks of cutting corners — whether through lax vetting, poor oversight, or underestimating jurisdictional challenges — can far outweigh the financial savings.
—Emil Sayegh, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
This was Madness, where a lax effort against a plucky underdog meant the death of a season.
—Luca Evans, The Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lax
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Adjective
Compounding the problem is the lax verification of developers.
—Alex Vakulov, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
Laptops, printers and other tech gadgets have been disappearing from Broward schools, in part due to lax controls during the COVID-19 pandemic, recent audits state.
—Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2025
The risks of cutting corners — whether through lax vetting, poor oversight, or underestimating jurisdictional challenges — can far outweigh the financial savings.
—Emil Sayegh, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
This was Madness, where a lax effort against a plucky underdog meant the death of a season.
—Luca Evans, The Denver Post, 20 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 18 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
lax
adjective1
of the bowels
: loose sense 3
2
: having loose bowels
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