Standard Lemma guide

laxly

adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK, US: /ˈlæks.li/

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a lax manner; without rigor or strictness.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • c. 1913, Walter Ripman, The Sounds of Spoken English: A Manual of Ear Training for English Students, New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., p. 56, The letters e, i, and y in unstressed syllables represent a very laxly articulated sound, for which the sign [i] is used in this book.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

in a permissively lenient manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he felt incensed that Tarrant should have been treated so leniently given his crime

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: leniently

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English lax Middle English -ly English -ly English laxly From lax + -ly.