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laissez faire - 5 dictionary results

lais⋅sez faire

  [les-ey fair; Fr. le-sey fer]
Use laissez faire in a Sentence
–noun
1. the theory or system of government that upholds the autonomous character of the economic order, believing that government should intervene as little as possible in the direction of economic affairs.
2. the practice or doctrine of noninterference in the affairs of others, esp. with reference to individual conduct or freedom of action.
Also, laisser faire.

Origin:
1815–25; < F: lit., allow to act

lais⋅sez-faire

  [les-ey-fair; Fr. le-sey-fer]
–adjective
of, pertaining to, or conforming to the principles or practices of laissez faire.
Also, laisser-faire.

Origin:
1815–25

Related forms:
laissez-faireism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To laissez faire
lais·sez faire also lais·ser faire   (lěs'ā fâr', lā'zā)   
n.  
  1. 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.
  2. Noninterference in the affairs of others.

[French : laissez, second person pl. imperative of laisser, to let, allow + faire, to do.]
lais'sez-faire' adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Laissez faire

Lais`sez" faire"\ [F., let alone.] Noninterference; -- an axiom of some political economists, deprecating interference of government by attempts to foster or regulate commerce, manufactures, etc., by bounty or by restriction; as, the doctrine of laissez faire; the laissez faire system government.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Laissez Faire

An economic theory from the 18th century that is strongly opposed to any government intervention in business affairs. Sometimes referred to as "Let it be economics."

Investopedia Commentary

People who support a laissez faire system are against minimum wages, duties, and any other trade restrictions.

Laissez faire is French for "leave alone."

Related Links

Economics Basics Tutorial

See also: Classical Economics, Dismal Science, Economics, Invisible Hand, Keynesian Economics

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