laissez faire

¹

or lais·ser faire

[ les-ey fair; French le-sey fer ]

noun

1. 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.
2. the practice or doctrine of noninterference in the affairs of others, especially with reference to individual conduct or freedom of action.

laissez-faire

²

or lais·ser-faire

[ les-ey-fair; French le-sey-fer ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or conforming to the principles or practices of laissez faire.

laissez faire

/ ˌlɛseɪ ˈfɛə; lese fɛr /

noun

1. 1. Also calledindividualism the doctrine of unrestricted freedom in commerce, esp for private interests
   2. ( as modifier )

      a laissez-faire economy

2. indifference or noninterference, esp in the affairs of others

laissez-faire

1. 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.

Derived Forms

• ˌlaissez-ˈfaireism, noun

Other Words From

• laissez-faireism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of laissez faire¹

1815–25; < French: literally, allow to act

Origin of laissez faire²

First recorded in 1815–25

Word History and Origins

Origin of laissez faire¹

French, literally: let (them) act

Example Sentences

There’s a certain live-and-let-live, laissez faire quality to eating like this.

From Salon

Just trying to be laissez faire about it because in my mind, I thought, “OK, is suicide covered?”

From Los Angeles Times

And it’s because of this remoteness and laissez faire attitude that people also come here to dump dogs they no longer want.

From Los Angeles Times

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.

From Seattle Times

Namely, addressing severe harm to the news industry that’s resulted from their laissez faire approach to Big Tech over the last two decades.

From Seattle Times

More About Laissez Faire

What does laissez faire mean?

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.

Where does laissez faire come from?

The first records of the term laissez faire come from around 1825. It’s a French term that translates to “allow to act,” “let (them) act,” or “let (people) do (as they choose).”

Allowing people (and businesses) to act in the way that they believe best suits their interests is the basis of any system considered to be an example of laissez faire. Laissez faire was a popular theory in politics and economics in the 1800s and is closely associated with France’s Physiocrats from the late 1700s. At the time, many French economists thought the king should leave businesses alone and not regulate them.

Though laissez-faire economics are rare in practice, at least on a wide scale, the theory still has many proponents. It is a central focus of libertarianism.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to laissez faire?

• laisser faire (variant spelling)
• laissez-faire (adjective)
• laissez-faireism (noun)

What are some synonyms for the noun laissez faire?

• noninterference
• do-nothing policy
• live and let live
• individualism
• inaction

What are some synonyms for the adjective laissez-faire?

• unregulated
• hands-off

What are some words that share a root or word element with laissez faire? 

• laissez aller
• laissez-passer

What are some words that often get used in discussing laissez faire?

• economics
• economy
• attitude
• approach
• capitalism
• government
• free enterprise

How is laissez faire used in real life?

Laissez faire is most commonly used in the context of economics, but it can be used in everyday life to refer to a hands-off approach to something. The adjective form laissez-faire is more commonly used.

#HSBC looks to Somalia, the ultimate laissez-faire economy, for headquarters http://t.co/KV8Ylg2A7T h/t @BrianSJ3 pic.twitter.com/YBnh3o2X45

— Ian Fraser (@Ian_Fraser) April 24, 2015

No copy editor has all three:

• an understanding of the proofreading marks
• no typos in their emails
• a laissez-faire attitude about the Oxford comma

— BuzzFeed Style Guide (@styleguide) October 11, 2019

32 fouls. No cautions. Bit too laissez faire for my liking. #AUSvUAE

— George Ploumidis (@georgeploumidis) March 28, 2017

Try using laissez faire!

Is laissez-faire used correctly in the following sentence?

“Jane has a very laissez-faire teaching style, allowing her students to work at their own pace.”