lapsed

6.8

No longer taking part in a group or activity you once joined

adjective
/læpst/

: alejado

He used to be a devoted runner, but now he is just a lapsed athlete.

Although I have been lapsed, I have to admit that and that's the result.

Examples

I am a lapsed vegan who is pretty much a vegetarian now.
I've been an atheist and I felt like you were like you're a lapsed atheist.
Although I have been lapsed, I have to admit that and that's the result.

Variety
And Bernard Williams was a lapsed Catholic and a ferocious atheist and a brilliant atheist.
Nick, I feel like we've gone from atheists to lapsed Catholics to whatever kind of practicing Catholics.
As a lapsed Catholic, she no longer attends mass or practices her faith.
After years of being a lapsed member, she decided to rejoin the book club.

Synonyms

unchurched

vslapsed

2 7.9

Not going to church or belonging to any religious group

is broader, applying to stopping any former practice, profession, or activity

nonchurchgoing

vslapsed

7.2

A person who does not go to church regularly

is broader, covering stopping participation in any former religion, job, or activity

Antonyms

active

664 1.0

Operating now and not stopped

participating

3.0

Taking part in an activity or event

How Active

active

8 5.6

occasional

285 2.8

nonpracticing

1 6.1

lapsed

6.8

former

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

lapsed positive

Morphology

lapsed = lapse (transparent) = lapse + ed

Formed as the past-participle/adjectival '-ed' of the verb 'lapse', so the adjective meaning follows directly from the verb 'to lapse' (to fall away or cease).

Etymology

Lapsed comes from the word lapse, which goes back to the Latin root labi meaning 'to slip'. It gives the image of someone 'slipping away' from a habit, group, or belief, so lapsed describes a person who no longer takes part.