: having ceased to be active in practice, membership, or belief
a lapsed Catholic

Examples of lapsed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The humor flows more freely — there’s something inherently comedic about the prospect of a lapsed pastor whose faithlessness initially prevents him from grokking the alien invasion before his eyes. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2024 For Fiennes, who describes himself as a lapsed but inquisitive Catholic, the movie stirred up long-standing questions about faith and history. Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024 Later scenes reveal the tensions brewing within the family: Alberta, a recent inductee to Christianity, criticizes how Ebony, a lapsed alcoholic, raises the kids. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 That committee was the brainchild of two men, William Rusher, the publisher of National Review, and his longtime collaborator, F. Clifton White, a lapsed and low-keyed academician from upstate New York. Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 9 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for lapsed 

Word History

First Known Use

1638, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lapsed was in 1638

Dictionary Entries Near lapsed

Cite this Entry

“Lapsed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lapsed. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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