Lax vs. Relax — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 27, 2023
"Lax" refers to being loose, negligent, or not strict, while "Relax" means to release tension or to become less tight or anxious.
Difference Between Lax and Relax
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Key Differences
"Lax" generally describes a state or quality of being slack, not tight or taut. It can refer to both physical looseness and metaphorical carelessness. On the other hand, "Relax" is a verb that indicates the act of releasing tension or easing strain, either physically or mentally.
In many contexts, "Lax" carries a negative connotation, suggesting negligence or a lack of strictness. For example, lax security measures could pose risks. "Relax," however, is often seen in a positive light, as it implies letting go of stress and tension.
While "Lax" is an adjective that describes a state or condition, "Relax" can be both a verb (to relax) and an adjective (relaxed). They address two distinct concepts: one denotes a lack of tension or strictness, while the other describes the action of becoming free from tension.
In everyday language, if someone is described as "lax," it may suggest that they are not diligent or rigorous in their actions or duties. Conversely, if someone is advised to "relax," it's usually an encouragement to ease up and take a moment of calm.
Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Adjective
Verb (primarily), can also be an adjective
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Definition
Loose, not strict or stringent.
To release or ease tension, or to become less tight.
Connotation
Often negative, suggesting negligence.
Generally positive, indicating relief or rest.
Usage Example
"Lax security measures."
"Relax your muscles."
Origin
Middle English "lax", from Latin "laxus" meaning "loose".
Middle English "relaxen", from Latin "relaxare" to loosen.
Compare with Definitions
Lax
Relaxed or easygoing.
The lax environment was a nice change.
Relax
To release tension or become less tense.
I like to relax by reading a book.
Lax
Not tense or firm.
His grip was surprisingly lax.
Relax
To make something less tight or firm.
Relax your grip on the handle.
Lax
Loose or slack.
The rope was lax and needed tightening.
Relax
To rest or take time off.
On weekends, I just want to relax.
Lax
Not sufficiently strict, severe, or careful
Lax security arrangements at the airport
He'd been a bit lax about discipline in school lately
Relax
To make lax or loose
Relax one's grip.
Lax
(of the limbs or muscles) relaxed
Muscles have more potential energy when they are stretched than when they are lax
Relax
To make less severe or strict
Relax a curfew.
Lax
Lacrosse
I wore pads and a helmet whenever I played lax
Relax
To reduce in intensity; slacken
Relax one's efforts.
Lax
Lacking in rigor, strictness, or firmness.
Relax
To relieve from tension or strain
The warm bath relaxed me.
Lax
Not taut, firm, or compact; slack.
Relax
To take one's ease; rest.
Lax
Loose and not easily retained or controlled. Used of bowel movements.
Relax
To become lax or loose.
Lax
(Linguistics) Pronounced with the muscles of the tongue and jaw relatively relaxed, as the vowel (ĕ) in let.
Relax
To become less severe or strict.
Lax
A salmon.
Relax
To become less restrained or tense.
Lax
Lacrosse.
Relax
(transitive) To calm down.
Lax
Lenient and allowing for deviation; not strict.
The rules are fairly lax, but you have to know which ones you can bend.
Relax
(transitive) To make something loose.
To relax a rope or cord
To relax the muscles or sinews
Lax
Loose; not tight or taut.
The rope fell lax.
Relax
(intransitive) To become loose.
Lax
Lacking care; neglectful, negligent.
Relax
(transitive) To make something less severe or tense.
To relax discipline
To relax one's attention or endeavours
Lax
(mathematics) Describing an associative monoidal functor.
Relax
(intransitive) To become less severe or tense.
Lax
(archaic) Having a looseness of the bowels; diarrheal.
Relax
(transitive) To make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient.
Lax
Not tense, firm, or rigid; loose; slack; as, a lax bandage; lax fiber.
The flesh of that sort of fish being lax and spongy.
Relax
To become more lenient.
Lax
Not strict or stringent; not exact; loose; weak; vague; equivocal.
The discipline was lax.
Society at that epoch was lenient, if not lax, in matters of the passions.
The word "æternus" itself is sometimes of a lax signification.
Relax
(transitive) To relieve (something) from stress.
Amusement relaxes the mind.
Lax
Having a looseness of the bowels; diarrheal.
Relax
To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open.
An aperient relaxes the bowels.
Lax
A looseness; diarrhea.
Relax
To make lax or loose; to make less close, firm, rigid, tense, or the like; to slacken; to loosen; to open; as, to relax a rope or cord; to relax the muscles or sinews.
Horror . . . all his joints relaxed.
Nor served it to relax their serried files.
Lax
Lacking in rigor or strictness;
Such lax and slipshod ways are no longer acceptable
Lax in attending classes
Slack in maintaining discipline
Relax
To make less severe or rigorous; to abate the stringency of; to remit in respect to strenuousness, earnestness, or effort; as, to relax discipline; to relax one's attention or endeavors.
The statute of mortmain was at several times relaxed by the legislature.
Lax
Pronounced with muscles relatively relaxed (e.g., the vowel sound in `bet')
Relax
Hence, to relieve from attention or effort; to ease; to recreate; to divert; as, amusement relaxes the mind.
Lax
Not taut or rigid; not stretched or held tight;
A lax rope
Relax
To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open; as, an aperient relaxes the bowels.
Lax
Lacking in strength or firmness or resilience;
Flaccid muscles
Took his lax hand in hers
Gave a limp handshake
A limp gesture as if waving away all desire to know
A slack grip
Relax
To become lax, weak, or loose; as, to let one's grasp relax.
His knees relax with toil.
Lax
Tolerant or lenient;
Indulgent parents risk spoiling their children
Procedures are lax and discipline is weak
Too soft on the children
Relax
To abate in severity; to become less rigorous.
In others she relaxed again,And governed with a looser rein.
Lax
Emptying easily or excessively;
Loose bowels
Relax
To remit attention or effort; to become less diligent; to unbend; as, to relax in study.
Lax
Negligent or careless.
His lax attitude caused the problem.
Relax
Relaxation.
Lax
Not strict or rigorous.
The teacher was lax with grading.
Relax
Relaxed; lax; hence, remiss; careless.
Relax
Become less tense, rest, or take one's ease;
He relaxed in the hot tub
Let's all relax after a hard day's work
Relax
Make less tight;
Relax the tension on the rope
Relax
Become loose or looser or less tight;
The noose loosened
The rope relaxed
Relax
Cause to feel relaxed;
A hot bath always relaxes me
Relax
Become less tense, less formal, or less restrained, and assume a friendlier manner;
Our new colleague relaxed when he saw that we were a friendly group
Relax
Make less severe or strict;
The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught
Relax
Become less severe or strict;
The rules relaxed after the new director arrived
Relax
Make less active or fast;
He slackened his pace as he got tired
Don't relax your efforts now
Relax
To lessen the intensity or severity.
They decided to relax the rules.
Relax
To become less formal or restrained.
He began to relax around his friends.
Common Curiosities
What's the main difference between Lax and Relax?
"Lax" is an adjective denoting looseness or negligence, while "Relax" is a verb indicating the act of releasing tension.
Which is more informal, Lax or Relax?
While both can be used in formal contexts, "Lax" can imply carelessness, while "Relax" often suggests casualness or informality.
Is "Lax" always used in negative contexts?
Mostly, "Lax" carries a negative connotation, implying negligence or lack of strictness, but can also simply describe looseness.
Can a rule be "Relaxed"?
Yes, if a rule is "relaxed," it's made less stringent or strict.
If I'm feeling stressed, should I "Lax" or "Relax"?
You should "Relax." "Lax" doesn't describe the act of de-stressing.
Can "Relax" be used as both a verb and adjective?
Yes, while "Relax" is primarily a verb, "relaxed" can be used as an adjective.
Can a rope be "Relaxed"?
Not usually. A rope can be "lax" meaning loose, but "relax" is an action, not a state.
Can I say "Relax standards"?
Yes, it means to make the standards less strict.
Can I say "Lax your muscles"?
No, the correct phrase would be "Relax your muscles." "Lax" describes a state, not an action.
Can "Lax" describe a person's behavior?
Yes, if someone is described as "lax," it can mean they are careless or not diligent in their actions.
Is it correct to describe someone's demeanor as "Relax"?
No, you would describe it as "relaxed."
What's the opposite of "Relax"?
"Tense up" or "tighten."
Which term implies more of a physical looseness?
"Lax" often implies physical looseness, such as in a lax rope.
Can I use "Relax" to describe a decrease in intensity?
Yes, like when saying "relax one's efforts" or "relax the rules."
Is "Lax" related to "Relax" in origin?
Both have Latin origins relating to looseness, but they evolved differently in English.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
