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laissez faire

The definition of laissez faire is the theory that governments should have a very minimal regulation of commerce or that people should be able to do what they want without interference.

(noun)

An example of laissez faire are the economic policies held by capitalist countries.
An example of laissez faire is when a homeowner is allowed to plant whatever they want to grow in their front yard without having to get permission from their city.

See laissez faire in Webster's New World College Dictionary

the policy or practice of letting people act without interference or direction; noninterference; specif., the policy of letting the owners of industry and business fix the rules of competition, the conditions of labor, etc. as they please, without governmental regulation or control

also sp. laisser faire

Origin: Fr, lit., let (people) do (as they please)

Related Forms:

laissez-faire adjective

See laissez faire in American Heritage Dictionary 4

also lais·ser faire

noun

An economic doctrine that opposes governmental regulation of or interference in commerce beyond the minimum necessary for a free-enterprise system to operate according to its own economic laws.
Noninterference in the affairs of others.

Origin:

Origin: French

Origin: : laissez

Origin: , second person pl. imperative of laisser, to let, allow

Origin: + faire, to do

Related Forms: