What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
lax
Example
The company's lax safety policies resulted in several accidents. [lax: adjective]
Example
The rope was too lax and couldn't hold the weight. [lax: adjective]
Example
After being sick for a week, he felt lax and tired. [lax: adjective]
slack
Example
He was fired for his slack performance at work. [slack: adjective]
Example
The rope was too slack and needed to be tightened. [slack: adjective]
Example
Business was slow during the slack season. [slack: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Slack is more commonly used than lax in everyday language, especially in the context of work or productivity. Lax is less common and tends to be used in more formal or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between lax and slack?
Lax is generally considered more formal and technical than slack, which is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.