lapsed

[lapst]

adjective

1. expired; voided; terminated.

   a lapsed insurance policy.

2. no longer committed to or following the tenets of a particular belief, obligation, position, etc..

   a lapsed Catholic.

Other Word Forms

• unlapsed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lapsed¹

First recorded in 1610–20; lapse + -ed ²

Example Sentences

The picketing machinists benefited from a strike fund while they were off the job but were under increasing pressure as healthcare coverage lapsed for some families.

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As for the life-insurance policy with unpaid monthly premiums: It sounds like the policy has now probably lapsed, given that your husband died in June.

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The Gatsby motif — a glittering party meant to dazzle, distract and impress — played out in real life as guests toasted while federal benefits quietly lapsed.

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An initial 48-hour ceasefire lapsed before a second truce emerged on October 19 following talks in Doha, also brokered by Qatar and Turkey.

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As of Thursday’s close, the broad market index was up 0.7% over the course of the shutdown that began when funding for federal agencies lapsed at 12:01 a.m. on Oct.

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