laid-back

American  

[leyd-bak] / ˈleɪdˈbæk /

Or laidback

adjective

Slang.

1. relaxed or unhurried.

   laid-back music rhythms.

2. free from stress; easygoing; carefree.

   a laid-back way of living.

---

laid-back British  

adjective

1. informal relaxed in style, character, or behaviour; easy-going and unhurried

---

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

Blending classic menswear with skate and surf culture, the space also features an in-store skate bowl, reflecting the brand’s roots while tapping into Los Angeles’ laid-back vibe.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 8, 2026

“Growing up here, it was an eclectic, artsy, laid-back town,” said Stanaland, who’s been selling in the area for 30 years.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2026

None of this speaks well for the tourist-dependent local economy of this laid-back tropical paradise.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

The jazz virtuoso has an unusually, appealingly laid-back sound on a new archival release, recorded with bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen in Detroit in 1960.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

Our biggest problem was that where he was laid-back, almost passive, I was very aggressive.

From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers

Related Words

• easygoing
• mellow