WordGarden.iolaid-back
Pronunciation
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Meanings
Adjective
relaxed, easygoing, and not easily worried or upset
Beyond the definition
Someone who is laid-back is calm, relaxed, and not easily upset. A laid-back friend might shrug off a delayed train, order another coffee, and say there is no point worrying until there is something useful to do.
Laid-back often describes a person's attitude, but it can also describe a place, style, or mood. A beach town might have a laid-back atmosphere, a song might have a laid-back rhythm, and a company might have a laid-back dress code. The word is usually positive, suggesting comfort and ease, though sometimes it can hint that someone is a little too casual or not urgent enough.
Laid-back means relaxed, easygoing, and not tense or hurried. If someone is laid-back, they tend to stay calm, avoid unnecessary drama, and take things as they come. For example: “Her laid-back attitude helped everyone feel less nervous before the trip.”
It is often used to describe personality. A laid-back person may be friendly, patient, and hard to irritate. They do not usually panic over small problems, and they may prefer a slower, more comfortable pace. “He is so laid-back that even bad traffic does not bother him.”
Laid-back can also describe environments, events, music, clothing, or general style. A laid-back restaurant might feel casual and welcoming instead of formal. A laid-back afternoon might involve reading, walking, or talking without a strict plan. In music, a laid-back beat feels smooth, relaxed, and unforced.
Sometimes the word carries a mild criticism. If a boss says an employee is too laid-back, the boss may mean the employee is not showing enough urgency, discipline, or attention to deadlines. In that context, laid-back is close to “too casual” or “not serious enough.”
The phrase is usually written with a hyphen when used as an adjective: “a laid-back manner” or “a laid-back town.” It should not be confused with “lay back,” which is a verb phrase meaning to recline or lean backward.
So whether you are describing a calm personality, a casual atmosphere, or a smooth rhythm, laid-back is a word for ease, looseness, and a life that refuses to get tense too quickly.
Examples
- 1
Personality
My brother is very laid-back, so he rarely gets upset about small problems.
- 2
Hospitality
The hotel has a laid-back feel, with hammocks by the pool and music in the lobby.
- 3
Social plans
We had a laid-back dinner at home instead of going to a fancy restaurant.
- 4
Rules
The school is fairly laid-back about uniforms.
- Patternlaid-back about + rule/topic
not strict or worried about it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Teaching style
A laid-back approach works well with nervous beginners.
- 6
Interview tone
The interview was surprisingly laid-back, and we ended up talking like colleagues.
- 7
Workplace culture
The office is almost too laid-back; people miss deadlines and nobody seems concerned.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- chill
- nonchalant
- low-key
Contrast
- tense
- high-strung
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- laid-back attitude
- laid-back style
- laid-back person
- laid-back atmosphere
Explore
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- laid-backadjective