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lapse
[laps]
noun
an accidental or temporary decline or deviation from an expected or accepted condition or state; a temporary falling or slipping from a previous standard.
a lapse of justice.
a slip or error, often of a trivial sort; failure.
a lapse of memory.
an interval or passage of time; elapsed period.
a lapse of ten minutes before the program resumed.
a moral fall, as from rectitude or virtue.
a fall or decline to a lower grade, condition, or degree; descent; regression.
a lapse into savagery.
the act of falling, slipping, sliding, etc., slowly or by degrees.
a falling into disuse.
Insurance., discontinuance of coverage resulting from nonpayment of a premium; termination of a policy.
Law., the termination of a right or privilege through neglect to exercise it or through failure of some contingency.
Meteorology., lapse rate.
Archaic., a gentle, downward flow, as of water.
verb (used without object)
to fall or deviate from a previous standard; fail to maintain a normative level.
Toward the end of the book the author lapsed into bad prose.
to come to an end; stop.
We let our subscription to that magazine lapse.
to fall, slip, or sink; subside.
to lapse into silence.
to fall into disuse.
The custom lapsed after a period of time.
to deviate or abandon principles, beliefs, etc..
to lapse into heresy.
to fall spiritually, as an apostate.
to lapse from grace.
to pass away, as time; elapse.
Law., to become void, as a legacy to someone who dies before the testator.
to cease being in force; terminate.
Your insurance policy will lapse after 30 days.
lapse
/ læps /
noun
a drop in standard of an isolated or temporary nature
a lapse of justice
a break in occurrence, usage, etc
a lapse of five weeks between letters
a gradual decline or a drop to a lower degree, condition, or state
a lapse from high office
a moral fall
law the termination of some right, interest, or privilege, as by neglecting to exercise it or through failure of some contingency
insurance the termination of coverage following a failure to pay the premiums
verb
to drop in standard or fail to maintain a norm
to decline gradually or fall in status, condition, etc
to be discontinued, esp through negligence or other failure
(usually foll by into) to drift or slide (into a condition)
to lapse into sleep
(often foll by from) to turn away (from beliefs or norms)
law (of a devise or bequest) to become void, as on the beneficiary's predeceasing the testator
(of time) to slip away
Other Word Forms
- lapsed adjective
- lapser noun
- lapsable adjective
- unlapsing adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of lapse1
Word History and Origins
Origin of lapse1
Example Sentences
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa similarly warned that its lapse would carry serious consequences for his country.
The report did cite communication breakdowns, unclear designation of responsibilities, insufficient resources and chaotic conditions as factors in the lapses, while providing recommendations for how to address those big picture shortcomings in the future.
In the memo, the Office of Budget and Management directs federal agencies to begin drafting "reduction in force" plans for programmes whose funding will lapse if Congress fails to meet a 30 September budget deadline.
"I wouldn't normally conduct myself in such a fashion. I regret that lapse last week and I wish to apologise to all colleagues."
Park the CEO issued an apology after the fire, but denied allegations of safety lapses at the factory.
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