lapse
LAPS
læps
A temporary failure of concentration, memory, or judgment; a passage of time.
A lapse is a brief slip-up. It implies that you usually know the thing, but you failed just this once.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'lapsus,' meaning a slip or a fall. It is related to 'collapse.'
Word relationships
- slip: Slip is more informal; lapse is slightly more formal and often used for more serious errors.
- continuity: Continuity is the unbroken and consistent existence of something over time.
Commonly confused with
- relapse: A relapse is a return to a bad condition (like sickness); a lapse is a single error.
Collocations
- lapse of memory
- lapse in judgment
- time lapse
- momentary lapse
Example sentences
- "A sudden lapse in concentration caused the driver to miss the turn." Daily life
- "I apologize for the lapse in communication; I was out of the office last week." Professional setting
Memory hook
Lapse = Slip. Just change the letters around (almost). A quick slip.
When not to use
Don't use it for permanent memory loss (like amnesia).
Fun facts
- A 'time-lapse' video is made by taking photos at intervals and playing them back quickly to show slow changes.
Explore more words
inattention, slip away, glitch, fallible, malfunction, blow it
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