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.

Concerns over this phenomenon have upended the White House’s AI strategy, and caused it to re-evaluate its laissez-faire approach to AI development.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

“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

Polymarket has taken a more laissez-faire approach to inside information.

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

By 1966, the warders had adopted a laissez-faire attitude: we could talk as much as we wanted as long as we worked.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Vocabulary lists containing laissez-faire

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