lapsed

/læpst/ (bre, ipa) · /læpst/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈlapst/ (ame, mw)

lapsed — adjective

  • lapsedpositive
  • lapsedercomparative
  • lapsedestsuperlative

1. describes someone who used to belong to a club, group, or activity but who has s

1.形容詞C1
釋義

describes someone who used to belong to a club, group, or activity but who has stopped taking part in it.

例句

Sari sent a friendly email to lapsed members of the photography club, inviting them back.

attributive: lapsed + members (people who left a group)

The yoga studio offered a discount to lapsed students who had been away.

collocation: lapsed students / lapsed customers

同義詞
  • former

    broader; covers any past role, while 'lapsed' implies the person drifted away rather than formally quit.

  • inactive

    neutral; could describe a temporary pause, whereas 'lapsed' suggests a longer or more permanent gap.

反義詞
  • active

    currently taking part

  • current

    still a paying or participating member

文法句型

lapsed + noun (lapsed member, lapsed subscriber)

用法筆記

Almost always used before a noun (lapsed member, lapsed subscriber). Suggests someone who once took part regularly, not someone who simply tried it once.

常見錯誤

❌My uncle is lapsed from the gym.
✅My uncle is a lapsed gym member.
💡'lapsed' goes before the noun, not after 'is' on its own.

2. describes an agreement, payment plan, or official permission that has run out be

2.形容詞C1
釋義

describes an agreement, payment plan, or official permission that has run out because it was not renewed or paid on time.

例句

Vivek found that his car insurance had lapsed two months ago and bought a new policy.

collocation: lapsed insurance / lapsed policy

The clinic refused to treat patients with a lapsed health plan until they paid the fees.

attributive: lapsed + plan/policy

同義詞
  • expired

    very close in meaning; 'expired' is more neutral and common, 'lapsed' often suggests it was allowed to run out through neglect.

  • invalid

    broader; covers paperwork that is wrong or fake, not just out of date.

反義詞

文法句型

lapsed + noun (lapsed insurance, lapsed licence)

用法筆記

Subject is typically a contract, payment, or official document (insurance, licence, subscription, passport). Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 is about paperwork running out, sense 1 is about a person drifting away.

常見錯誤

❌The contract has lapsed yesterday.
✅The contract lapsed yesterday.
💡use the verb 'lapse' for the action; 'lapsed' as an adjective sits before a noun (a lapsed contract).

3. describes a person who once followed a religion but has gradually stopped going

3.形容詞C1
釋義

describes a person who once followed a religion but has gradually stopped going to services or holding the beliefs.

例句

Jabari called himself a lapsed Catholic, having stopped going to church as a teenager.

collocation: lapsed Catholic / lapsed Muslim / lapsed Jew

Hannah, a lapsed Buddhist, still kept her grandmother's small shrine in the living room.

同義詞
  • non-practising

    very close; more neutral and less personal in tone.

  • fallen-away

    informal, mostly used of Christians; suggests a more emotional departure than 'lapsed'.

反義詞
  • devout

    strongly committed to a religion

  • practising

    still actively following the faith

文法句型

lapsed + religion-noun (lapsed Catholic, lapsed Buddhist)

用法筆記

Almost always followed by the name of a religion or a religious-role noun (Catholic, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, worshipper). Implies a slow drift away rather than a public rejection of the faith.

常見錯誤

❌He is lapsed in religion.
✅He is a lapsed Catholic.
💡pair 'lapsed' directly with the religion's name, not with the general word 'religion'.