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laissez faire
1[les-ey fair, le-sey fer]
noun
the theory or system of government that upholds the autonomous character of the economic order, believing that government should intervene as little as possible in the direction of economic affairs.
the practice or doctrine of noninterference in the affairs of others, especially with reference to individual conduct or freedom of action.
laissez-faire
2[les-ey-fair, le-sey-fer]
adjective
of, relating to, or conforming to the principles or practices of laissez faire.
laissez faire
/ ˌlɛseɪ ˈfɛə, lese fɛr /
noun
Also called: individualism.the doctrine of unrestricted freedom in commerce, esp for private interests
( as modifier )
a laissez-faire economy
indifference or noninterference, esp in the affairs of others
laissez-faire
French for “Let (people) do (as they choose).” It describes a system or point of view that opposes regulation or interference by the government in economic affairs beyond the minimum necessary to allow the free enterprise system to operate according to its own laws.
Other Word Forms
- laissez-faireism noun
- ˌ-ˈڲ noun
Word History and Origins
Origin of laissez faire1
Origin of laissez faire2
Word History and Origins
Origin of laissez faire1
Example Sentences
There’s a certain live-and-let-live, laissez faire quality to eating like this.
Just trying to be laissez faire about it because in my mind, I thought, “OK, is suicide covered?”
And it’s because of this remoteness and laissez faire attitude that people also come here to dump dogs they no longer want.
So if you think about the crumbling of the laissez faire paradigm in the 1920s and the wake of World War I and the Great Depression, it wasn’t clear what would supersede.
Namely, addressing severe harm to the news industry that’s resulted from their laissez faire approach to Big Tech over the last two decades.
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When To Use
As a noun, laissez faire refers to the practice of allowing people or institutions to act or behave however they want, with little or no interference or regulation. It can also refer to the theory on which such a system is based.The adjective form laissez-faire is used to describe people or things that engage in this practice or that are based on this theory, such as a laissez-faire economy.These terms are especially associated with economics. In this context, they refer to systems in which there are few regulations and little government oversight of how business is conducted. Supporters of free enterprise typically advocate for laissez-faire policies. In contrast, most governments create regulations or provide oversight with the intention of trying to keep the economy fair.The terms can be used more generally in everyday life in the context of people who use laissez faire as an approach to dealing with a situation or who have a laissez-faire attitude. This typically involves a person letting things happen without getting involved.Example: The head of the franchise was known for her philosophy of laissez faire, usually letting the head coach make most of the decisions about the team.
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