Meaning & use
laissez-faire
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Believing that governments should not interfere in business or people's economic choices.
Grammar: Comes before the noun it describes: laissez-faire policies.
Patterns
- laissez-faire policy
- laissez-faire approach
- laissez-faire capitalism
The president's laissez-faire economic policy allowed banks to regulate themselves.
Many economists argue that a laissez-faire approach led to the financial crisis.
She wrote a book defending laissez-faire capitalism.
noununcountable
The practice of letting people or businesses act without government control.
Grammar: Used without a/an or a plural: a period of laissez-faire.
Patterns
- a period of laissez-faire
- advocate laissez-faire
- laissez-faire in economics
The 19th century was an era of laissez-faire in Britain.
He believes in complete laissez-faire and opposes all business regulations.
Their economic model is based on laissez-faire.
adjectivebefore a noun
Allowing people to behave as they wish without strict control or supervision.
Grammar: Often used of parents, managers, or teachers: a laissez-faire manager.
Patterns
- laissez-faire attitude
- laissez-faire management
- laissez-faire parenting
Her laissez-faire management style gives employees a lot of freedom.
Some parents take a laissez-faire attitude to their children's homework.
The teacher's laissez-faire approach works well with older students.
Common combinations
- laissez-faire capitalism
- Laissez-faire capitalism dominated the industrial revolution.
- laissez-faire policy
- The government adopted a laissez-faire policy toward small businesses.
- laissez-faire attitude
- His laissez-faire attitude toward safety worried the inspectors.
- laissez-faire economics
- She studied laissez-faire economics at university.
Synonyms and how they differ
- non-interventionist
- More formal and often used in political contexts; laissez-faire is more common in economic discussions.
- hands-off
- Informal and general; can describe any situation where someone does not interfere, not just economics.
- free-market
- Focuses on trade without government restrictions; laissez-faire emphasizes minimal government involvement overall.
Opposites
Commonly confused: laissez-faire or laissez-faire vs. laissez-passer?
laissez-faire vs laissez-faire vs. laissez-passer
A laissez-passer is a document allowing someone to pass; laissez-faire is about non-interference.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'laissez-faire' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option B correctly uses 'laissez-faire' to mean allowing freedom without strict control. Option An and D contradict the meaning, and option C misuses it to describe punctuality.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “laissez-faire”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.