laid-back
Americanadjective
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relaxed or unhurried.
laid-back music rhythms.
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free from stress; easygoing; carefree.
a laid-back way of living.
adjective
Etymology
Origin of laid-back
1905–10, for an earlier sense; 1970–75 for current sense
Explanation
Someone who's laid-back is relaxed and at ease. A laid-back dog owner always stays calm, even when her dog jumps up on the dining room table. The opposite of laid-back is uptight. While a laid-back babysitter pretty much lets his charges do whatever they feel like, an uptight babysitter might make a schedule for doing chores, eating, and a strict bedtime. A laid-back party is often much more fun than a formal, dressy event, since people can wear whatever they're comfortable in and enjoy chatting with each other. Laid-back was coined in the 1970s, possibly from the slouchy posture of motorcycle riders.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The backcountry of the French resort area offers luxury home buyers a more laid-back, rustic feel.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026
Do you want a a mild climate and more laid-back lifestyle?
From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026
"I guess I've just taught myself to be more laid-back."
From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026
Despite the threat, during the day the vibe remains laid-back in a city known for the cultivated cool of its hipster atmosphere.
From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026
The scene at the jail wasn’t as laid-back as before.
From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
