lax
lax — adjective
- laxpositive
- laxercomparative
- laxestsuperlative
1. not strict or careful enough when it comes to following rules, meeting standards
not strict or careful enough when it comes to following rules, meeting standards, or doing what is expected of you
The school was criticised for its lax attitude toward uniform rules.
collocation: lax attitude toward [rules/standards]
Some parents worry that the camp has lax safety checks that put children at risk.
Our office manager realised security had become lax after finding an unlocked door.
Aoi was shocked at the lax hygiene rules — nobody cleaned mats between sessions.
Tax officials were accused of being lax in enforcing new reporting rules for businesses.
用法筆記
Commonly used with nouns such as attitude, standards, rules, controls, and measures. The opposite of lax in this sense is strict.
常見錯誤
2. too weak or gentle to be effective — used about rules, punishments, measures, or
too weak or gentle to be effective — used about rules, punishments, measures, or actions that lack sufficient force or strength
The fine for using a phone while driving was too lax to stop the habit.
pattern: too lax + infinitive
Ari argued that the school's response to bullying was too lax to change anyone's behaviour.
Environmental groups say the regulations on factory waste are lax and allow too much pollution.
Neighbours felt the court's sentence was lax given the seriousness of the crime.
Gabriela thought the food safety checks were too lax and needed more inspectors.
- lenient
more common for punishments or sentences given by a judge or authority
- weak
more direct and informal; suggests the measure has little power to achieve its goal
- permissive
focuses on allowing too much freedom rather than on insufficient force
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (NOT STRICT): sense 1 describes a person or organisation's general attitude or approach to rules and standards (e.g., a lax manager, lax enforcement). Sense 2 describes the specific measure, rule, or penalty itself being too weak to be effective (e.g., a lax fine, a lax sentence). The two are complementary but distinct — a person's attitude (sense 1) determines whether the rules they impose are weak (sense 2). Common with nouns: sentence, regulations, measures, controls, fine.
常見錯誤
3. not pulled or stretched tight; hanging or lying loosely rather than firmly in pl
not pulled or stretched tight; hanging or lying loosely rather than firmly in place
The rope was too lax, so the wind pushed the boat away from the dock.
collocation: lax rope / lax wire
Nora tightened the guitar strings because they felt lax and the notes sounded flat.
The old washing line hung lax between the posts, sagging under wet clothes.
After losing weight, Jenna's skin felt lax around her jawline.
When tent ropes are lax, rainwater pools on the fabric instead of running off.
用法筆記
The opposite of this sense is tight or taut. Commonly describes ropes, strings, cables, fabric, skin, and muscles.
常見錯誤
4. describing a vowel sound that is pronounced without tensing the muscles in the m
describing a vowel sound that is pronounced without tensing the muscles in the mouth — for example, the short /ɪ/ sound in "bit" as distinct from the tense /iː/ sound in "beat"
The vowel in "foot" is a lax sound, while the vowel in "food" is produced with more tension.
contrast: lax vs tense vowels
Selim found it hard to hear the difference between the lax vowel in "ship" and the tense one in "sheep".
In textbooks, the symbol /ɪ/ represents a lax vowel that is shorter and lower than /iː/.
When teaching English pronunciation, Devika explained that the /ʌ/ in "cup" is a lax central vowel.
- tense
produced with more muscular tension in the mouth and throat
用法筆記
This technical term belongs to phonetics and phonology. It contrasts with tense. The distinction matters mainly to language teachers, linguists, and advanced learners studying English pronunciation.
常見錯誤
lax — noun
1. a team sport, also called lacrosse, in which players use a long stick with a mes
a team sport, also called lacrosse, in which players use a long stick with a mesh net at one end to catch, carry, and throw a small ball into the opponents' goal
Tyler joined the university lax team last semester and now practises four evenings a week.
collocation: lax team / lax player
The local sports shop sells lax sticks, helmets, and gloves for beginners.
Ezra watched a lax match on campus and decided the sport looked faster than hockey.
High schools in the area are starting more girls' lax programmes due to growing interest.
- lacrosse
the full formal name; lax is a casual abbreviation
用法筆記
Lax is an informal shortening of lacrosse, common in spoken American English and in sports journalism. Avoid using it in formal academic writing.