lapse

[laps]

lapse Definition

• 1. a temporary failure or slip in concentration, memory, or judgement
• 2. an interval or passage of time

Using lapse: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "lapse" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  I had a lapse in concentration and forgot what I was going to say.

• Example

  The company experienced a lapse in profits this quarter.

• Example

  It's been a lapse of five years since we last saw each other.

• Example

  He suffered a lapse of memory and couldn't remember where he parked his car.

lapse Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for lapse

• error
• mistake
• slip
• blunder
• omission

Antonyms for lapse

• achievement
• perfection
• success

Phrases with lapse

• lapse of judgment

  a momentary error or mistake in decision-making

  Example

  She had a lapse of judgment and decided to drive home after drinking.

• lapse rate

  the rate at which something decreases or declines over time

  Example

  The lapse rate of the company's stock price has been steadily declining over the past year.

• lapse into silence

  to stop talking or making noise suddenly

  Example

  After the argument, they both lapsed into silence and didn't speak for hours.

Origins of lapse

from Latin 'lapsus', meaning 'a slipping or falling'

📌

Summary: lapse in Brief

The term 'lapse' [laps] refers to a temporary failure or slip in concentration, memory, or judgement, as well as an interval or passage of time. Examples include 'I had a lapse in concentration and forgot what I was going to say,' and 'It's been a lapse of five years since we last saw each other.' Phrases like 'lapse of judgment' denote momentary errors, while 'lapse rate' refers to the rate of decline over time.