lapse
B2-C1Neutral to formal; used in both spoken and written language, more common in analytical, legal, business, and formal personal contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A temporary or minor failure or decline from a previous standard, often resulting in a mistake or a state of non-observance.
Can refer to the expiration or termination of a right or privilege due to time passing, a period of time elapsing, or a gradual decline into a less active or conscious state.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a decline from a better or more desired state due to inattention, weakness, or the passage of time. It can be used for abstract concepts (memory, judgment) and concrete legal/contractual situations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Minor differences exist in legal/insurance phrasing, but core meanings are the same.
Connotations
Identical; carries a slight negative connotation of failure or negligence in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English in formal/legal registers, but common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
lapse from Nlapse into Nlapse (of time)lapse (allow sth to ~)lapse (insurance policy ~s)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a lapse of memory”
- “a lapse in time”
- “lapse into silence”
- “lapse into a coma”
- “let one's membership lapse”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referring to a policy, subscription, or contract that ends due to non-renewal. 'The insurance policy will lapse if the premium isn't paid.'
Academic
Describing a decline in standards or a failure in methodology. 'The study noted a significant lapse in data collection protocols.'
Everyday
Talking about a minor mistake or memory failure. 'I had a momentary lapse and forgot your name.'
Technical
In law, the termination of a right or privilege; in photography/film, 'time-lapse'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- It was just a momentary lapse in concentration.
- After a lapse of several years, they met again.
- The report highlighted serious security lapses.
American English
- A single lapse in judgment cost him the game.
- There was a time lapse between the two events.
- Coverage resumes after a brief lapse.
verb
British English
- His subscription lapsed last month.
- She let her gym membership lapse.
- He briefly lapsed into a local dialect.
American English
- My car insurance is about to lapse.
- After the injury, he lapsed into unconsciousness.
- They allowed the offer to lapse.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I'm sorry, I had a lapse. What was your name again?
- There was a short lapse in the conversation.
- There must have been a lapse in communication.
- If you don't pay, your membership will lapse.
- The investigation revealed a serious lapse in safety procedures.
- After a lapse of a decade, she decided to return to university.
- The diplomat's controversial remarks represented a grave lapse in protocol.
- The statute lapsed due to prolonged non-application, creating a legal vacuum.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'LAPSE' as a 'slip' in time or attention. The word 'collapse' contains 'lapse' – a collapse in standards or memory.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A MOVING ENTITY / STANDARDS ARE STRUCTURES (that can slip or collapse). A lapse is a 'slip' in time or a 'gap' in a structure of behaviour.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'lapse of time' as 'потеря времени' (loss/waste of time). It means 'промежуток/истечение времени'.
- The verb 'to lapse' (e.g., a policy lapses) is not 'лопаться' (to burst) but 'утратить силу', 'истечь'.
- 'Memory lapse' is not 'провал в памяти' (which is stronger, like amnesia) but 'осечка памяти', 'забывчивость'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'lapse' for a permanent failure (it's usually temporary).
- Confusing 'lapse' (n./v.) with 'collapse' (more severe).
- Incorrect preposition: 'lapse in judgment' (not 'on judgment').
Practice
Quiz
In a legal context, what does it mean if a 'right' or 'claim' lapses?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'lapse' is a specific kind of mistake caused by a temporary failure of concentration, memory, or judgment. A 'mistake' is more general. All lapses are mistakes, but not all mistakes are lapses.
Rarely. It is almost always neutral or negative, implying a decline or failure. The exception is in neutral phrases like 'a lapse of time' or 'time-lapse photography', which are descriptive.
It is neutral but leans towards formal, especially as a verb ('the contract lapsed'). In everyday speech, it's common in set phrases like 'memory lapse' or 'lapse in judgment'.
As a noun: 'lapse in' (judgment, concentration), 'lapse of' (time). As a verb: 'lapse into' (silence, coma, informality), 'lapse from' (grace, a standard).