relaxation
Americannoun
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relaxations
plural
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abatement or relief from bodily or mental work, effort, application, etc.
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an activity or recreation that provides such relief; diversion; entertainment.
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a loosening or slackening.
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diminution or remission of strictness or severity.
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Mathematics. a numerical procedure for solving systems of equations by successive approximations of the variables.
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Physics.
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the return of a system undergoing dissipation to an initial state of equilibrium after being displaced from it.
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the approach to steady-state operation of a system that has undergone dissipation and a change in state or has been subjected to an abrupt periodic disturbance.
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noun
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rest or refreshment, as after work or effort; recreation
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a form of rest or recreation
his relaxation is cricket
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a partial lessening of a punishment, duty, etc
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the act of relaxing or state of being relaxed
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physics the return of a system to equilibrium after a displacement from this state
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maths a method by which errors resulting from an approximation are reduced by using new approximations
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of relaxation
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin relaxātiōn- (stem of relaxātiō ), equivalent to relaxāt ( us ) (past participle of relaxāre to relax; see -ate 1) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
The noun relaxation describes the act of making something less strict. If your boss announces a relaxation of the company dress code, that means lots of happy people will be wearing jeans to work. Relaxation carries many shades of meaning. It can describe being free from responsibility, like a relaxation of your usual obligations that comes while you're on vacation. The feeling of rest and peacefulness that can come from this freedom is also called relaxation. It comes from Latin: re- means "again," laxare means "loosen," and the suffix -ation means "the state of." So relaxation is the state of loosening something again.
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.
See Examples For:
As much as the spa functions as a social club, Voda balances that with a space for deep relaxation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026
Throughout his decades of ownership, Love also used the property as a creative retreat, incorporating spaces dedicated to music and relaxation.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 19, 2026
There are still too many nerves around Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and in De Zerbi's team for calm and relaxation.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
I can’t speak for Katie Zacharia, but I’m willing to bet that you’ve earned some relaxation after a long day.
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026
“Why don’t we do some relaxation exercises?” the talk-doctor suggests, although I know it’s only phrased like a suggestion.
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
"It has a mechanical activity -- the contractions and relaxations that pump blood through our body -- coupled to an electrical signal that controls that activity."
From Science Daily ● Mar. 22, 2024
Experts have suggested a smattering of possible reasons for the increased rates, such as relaxations in social distancing and masking, increased exposure as a result of vacation travel and waning immunity from past vaccinations.
From Scientific American ● Aug. 14, 2023
UKHospitality, an industry group, said the "practical" Covid-era relaxations had helped some businesses to boost sales.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2023
Other relaxations are more subtle but still significant, like the length of lockdowns, which can only last five days if no new cases are detected.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 7, 2022
His relaxations were rowing down the Thames among the shipping, and thinking of the girl.
From The Literary Sense by E. (Edith) Nesbit
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