Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A lax condition.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The state of being lax; laxity.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The property of being lax, lacking strictness.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the quality of being lax and neglectful
  • noun the condition of being physiologically lax

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

lax +‎ -ness

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Examples

  • There is however a certain unprecedented air of laxness from the Secret Service, or maybe these things have been occurring all along and we haven't heard about it.

    Uninvited tourists attend White House breakfast, meet Obama 2009

  • Yet, by a curious exception, the supreme legislative assembly must have one-tenth, and may have one-half of its members outside the order, because, it is alleged, there is a sort of wisdom that comes of sin and laxness, which is necessary to the perfect ruling of life.

    A Modern Utopia Herbert George 2006

  • Yet, by a curious exception, the supreme legislative assembly must have one-tenth, and may have one-half of its members outside the order, because, it is alleged, there is a sort of wisdom that comes of sin and laxness, which is necessary to the perfect ruling of life.

    A Modern Utopia 1906

  • Mexican authorities have complained for years of what they have termed the laxness of their American counterparts towards the flow of weapons legally purchased in the U.S. and bound towards its southern neighbor.

    Spero News 2009

  • I am one who believes that despite years of errors in judging, laxness of citizenry in guarding, and legal wrangling in the following years, ... the constitution is clear and means today what it meant then — no government is empowered to get in the way of owning and carrying a gun.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » NRA Convention report 2010

  • The FSA's report on Wednesday documented the laxness of some banks' approaches.

    U.K. Says Banks Fail to Combat Laundering David Enrich 2011

  • Loose U.S. monetary policy offers some support, but the euro zone's own laxness offers an offset by weakening the euro against the dollar.

    Hormuz Isn't the Only Oil Hot Spot Liam Denning 2012

  • Safety officials blame the laxness partly on earlier Kremlin efforts to promote business by reducing inspections.

    Russia Faces New Air-Safety Crisis Gregory L. White 2011

  • We may need to reform our laxness and cease living with a conscience that condemns us, or even worse, grows insensitive.

    Remember the Sabbath to Keep It Holy* « Unknowing 2010

  • And if an opponent shows laxness in prepping, the kicker is authorized (in all but endgame situations when a single point is needed) to audible to the two point attempt.

    Matthew Yglesias » The Swinging Gate 2009

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