laissez-faire
laissez-faire — adjective
1. allowing business activity to continue with very little official control or pric
allowing business activity to continue with very little official control or price-setting by the state
The minister defended laissez-faire policies and cut rules for small exporters.
collocation: laissez-faire policies
Roya criticized the city's laissez-faire approach after unsafe taxis filled downtown streets.
collocation: laissez-faire approach
Under the president's laissez-faire trade policy, local shops faced more foreign competition.
At the debate, Meera warned that laissez-faire banking rules could hurt small savers.
- free-market
close in economic meaning, but often names the system rather than the policy style behind it
- deregulatory
policy term that stresses removing existing rules
- hands-off
broader and more everyday; can describe people as well as governments
- interventionist
describes a government that steps in actively to guide the economy
- regulated
focuses on markets being controlled by formal rules
文法句型
laissez-faire + policy/system/approach
laissez-faire + rules
用法筆記
Usually modifies policy, system, approach, or rules in business and politics. It describes limited state control over economic activity, not a complete absence of government in every area.
常見錯誤
2. not trying to direct other people closely, and preferring to let them decide or
not trying to direct other people closely, and preferring to let them decide or act for themselves
Christopher takes a laissez-faire approach and lets his teenagers plan weekends alone.
pattern: take a laissez-faire approach
The coach's laissez-faire style left younger players unsure who should lead practice.
collocation: laissez-faire style
After one warning, the teacher became more laissez-faire and stopped checking every notebook.
A laissez-faire manager may trust the team, but deadlines can still slip.
- hands-off
the closest everyday term; often used for management or parenting
- permissive
usually suggests allowing too much freedom, especially with children
- uninvolved
stronger and more negative; suggests failing to take needed responsibility
- controlling
describes someone who tries to direct other people closely
- interventionist
formal term for stepping in often rather than leaving others alone
文法句型
laissez-faire + manager/parent/style/approach
be laissez-faire about + noun
用法筆記
Usually describes parenting, teaching, or management. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about personal style in dealing with people, not economic policy.
常見錯誤
laissez-faire — noun
1. a policy of leaving businesses and prices mostly to competition instead of direc
a policy of leaving businesses and prices mostly to competition instead of directing them through many state rules
The party promised laissez-faire for online businesses and removed most license fees.
supporting laissez-faire in policy
Many bankers welcomed the government's laissez-faire after the export rules disappeared.
government's laissez-faire
By 1995, strict planning gave way to laissez-faire in the phone market.
Critics said pure laissez-faire would let large companies crush family farms.
- free-market policy
the closest neutral paraphrase in economic discussion
- deregulation
focuses more specifically on removing existing rules
- non-intervention
formal and broader; can apply outside economics as well
- regulation
general term for official rules controlling business activity
- state control
stresses government direction over prices, production, or trade
文法句型
support/defend/reject laissez-faire
laissez-faire in + market/industry/economy
用法筆記
Often appears after verbs such as support, defend, attack, or reject in economic debate. It names the policy itself, while adjective sense 1 describes a policy, system, or set of rules.
常見錯誤
2. an attitude of not stepping in to manage other people closely, even when clearer
an attitude of not stepping in to manage other people closely, even when clearer direction may be needed
Her laissez-faire let the children stay up late on school nights.
someone's laissez-faire
The editor's laissez-faire allowed each reporter to choose a very different writing style.
After months of chaos, staff members blamed the owner's laissez-faire for missed orders.
Too much laissez-faire in the lab can lead to broken tools and safety mistakes.
- non-interference
formal and close in meaning, especially when someone avoids stepping in
- hands-off attitude
more everyday wording for personal style
- permissiveness
often suggests allowing too much freedom
- control
general opposite of letting others act without direction
- micromanagement
strong opposite that stresses excessive close supervision
文法句型
someone's laissez-faire
laissez-faire with + people/group
用法筆記
Usually refers to a person's attitude in parenting, teaching, or management. Distinguish from noun sense 2, which is specifically about low government control in the economy.