Looseness - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Looseness refers to the state of not being tight or firmly fixed. It can describe physical objects, like loose clothing, or abstract concepts, such as imprecise language or relaxed rules.
Definition:
The quality of not being firmly fixed or tightly attached; lack of strictness or precision.
Synonyms:
slackness, laxity, play, flexibility
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
tightness, rigidity
Common Collocations:
looseness of the bowels, looseness of the joints, looseness of the rules
Derivatives:
loose, loosely, loosening
Usage Tips:
Use "looseness" to describe physical slackness or metaphorical lack of strictness (e.g., rules or language).
Common Phrases:
give someone some looseness, looseness of the tongue, play with looseness
Etymology:
Derived from Old English *lōs*, meaning "free" or "unbound," with the suffix *-ness* indicating a state or quality.
Examples:
- 1. The shirt had some looseness around the waist.
- 2. Her essay showed a certain looseness in structure and argument.
- 3. The mechanic checked the looseness of the bolts.
- 4. Looseness in regulations can lead to misunderstandings.