laissez-faire

[les-ey fair, le-sey fer] / ˌlɛs eɪ ˈfɛər, lɛ seɪ ˈfɛr /

NOUN

abstention from interference

Synonyms

WEAK

do-nothing policy for the most free enterprise free hand inaction indifference individualism laisser aller laisser passer latitude let-alone policy live and let live neutrality noninterference nonintervention nonrestriction part unrestrained by law free trade permissiveness

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“In the transition, I told the incoming Trump team that they should really pick up that dialogue. But the Trump administration’s view was just far more laissez-faire, and they didn’t seem particularly interested in it.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

Her laissez-faire policy applies to letting her kids drop extracurriculars when they’ve moved on from them and maintain less than straight-A grades.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

Trading volume on prediction markets has soared and upended the gambling industry under the laissez-faire status quo.

From Barron's • Nov. 19, 2025

Taking a laissez-faire attitude toward information and financial transactions could be a very big mistake.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 14, 2025

Appealing though this laissez-faire undoubtedly was, especially for amateur musicians, it resulted in instrumental music that did not make great demands on players, their instruments, or indeed composers.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Vocabulary lists containing laissez-faire

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