lax

• Désigne un manque de rigueur, de prudence ou de précision ; souvent utilisé pour des règles, une discipline ou un comportement insuffisamment stricts ou contrôlés. Peut aussi évoquer une attitude relâchée ou détendue.

Describes a lack of strictness, care, or precision; often used to refer to rules, discipline, or behavior that is not sufficiently tight or controlled.

1. Lack of strictnessB2formal

   Not strict, careful, or rigorous enough in enforcing rules or maintaining standards.

   Manque de rigueur

   • The school was criticized for its lax attitude toward cyberbullying.
   • Lax security measures allowed the breach to happen.
   • His lax parenting led to behavioral issues in his children.
   • We cannot afford to be lax about quality control.

   Synonymescarelesslenientloosenegligentpermissiveremissslackslipshod

   Antonymesexactingrigorousseverestrictstringent

2. Relaxed pronunciationC1formal

   Pronounced with the tongue and jaw muscles in a relatively relaxed state, such as the vowel sound in 'bet'.

   Relâché (prononciation)

   • The vowel in 'bed' is a lax vowel, unlike the tense vowel in 'bead'.
   • Linguists classify the 'e' sound in 'met' as a lax phoneme.
   • In many dialects, the vowel in 'sit' is lax.
   • Lax vowels require less muscular tension than tense vowels.

   Synonymesrelaxedslack

   Antonymesconstrictedtensetight

3. Lack of firmness or resilienceB2formal

   Lacking strength, firmness, or the ability to spring back into shape.

   Manque de fermeté ou de résilience

   • The old rope had become lax and could not support the weight.
   • Lax muscles are more prone to injury during exercise.
   • The elastic band felt limp and lax after repeated stretching.
   • A lax grip on the handle caused him to lose control.

   Synonymesdroopyflabbyflaccidlimplooseslacksoft

   Antonymesfirmresilientrigidstifftauttense

4. Easily emptying bowelsB2formal

   Having a tendency to empty the bowels easily or excessively, often describing loose stools.

   laxatif

   • The medication caused a lax bowel condition in some patients.
   • A diet high in fiber can make the bowels lax.
   • Doctors advised him to avoid spicy food if his bowels were lax.
   • Symptoms include frequent, lax stools lasting more than a few days.

   Synonymesdiarrheicloose