TERMIUM Plus®
The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.
LAPSUS [5 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2025-04-14
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Human Behaviour
- Personnel Management
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- slip
1, record 1, English, slip
correct, noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Reason differentiates between slips or lapses and mistakes. A slip or lapse occurs when the action conducted is not what was intended. It is an error of execution. The difference between a slip and a lapse is that a slip is observable and a lapse is not. For example, turning the wrong knob on a piece of equipment would be a slip; not being able to recall something from memory is a lapse. 2, record 1, English, - slip
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Comportement humain
- Gestion du personnel
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- raté
1, record 1, French, rat%C3%A9
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Les ratés et les lapsus sont des erreurs qui résultent d’un défaut dans l'exécution d’une séquence d’actions […] Alors que les ratés sont potentiellement observables, sous la forme d’actions non visiblement planifiés, le terme «lapsus» est généralement réservé à ces formes d’erreurs moins observables, principalement causées par des défauts de mémoire […] 2, record 1, French, - rat%C3%A9
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 2025-04-14
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Human Behaviour
- Personnel Management
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- lapse
1, record 2, English, lapse
correct, noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
A slip or lapse occurs when the action conducted is not what was intended. It is an error of execution. The difference between a slip and a lapse is that a slip is observable and a lapse is not. For example, turning the wrong knob on a piece of equipment would be a slip; not being able to recall something from memory is a lapse. 2, record 2, English, - lapse
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Comportement humain
- Gestion du personnel
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- lapsus
1, record 2, French, lapsus
correct, masculine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Les ratés et les lapsus sont des erreurs qui résultent d’un défaut dans l'exécution d’une séquence d’actions […] Alors que les ratés sont potentiellement observables, sous la forme d’actions non visiblement planifiés, le terme «lapsus» est généralement réservé à ces formes d’erreurs moins observables, principalement causées par des défauts de mémoire […] 2, record 2, French, - lapsus
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record 3 - internal organization data 2024-08-30
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Symbolism and Psychology of Language
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- parapraxis
1, record 3, English, parapraxis
correct
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
- Freudian slip 2, record 3, English, Freudian%20slip
correct, familiar
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A minor error in speech or action representing the fulfilment of an unconscious wish. 3, record 3, English, - parapraxis
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Classical examples involve slips of the tongue, but psychoanalytic theory also embraces misreadings, mishearings, temporary forgettings, and the mislaying and losing of objects. 4, record 3, English, - parapraxis
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Symbolique et psychologie du langage
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- acte manqué
1, record 3, French, acte%20manqu%C3%A9
correct, masculine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
- acte accidentel 2, record 3, French, acte%20accidentel
correct, masculine noun
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Acte par lequel un sujet substitue, malgré lui, à un projet qu’il vise délibérément, une action ou une conduite imprévue. 2, record 3, French, - acte%20manqu%C3%A9
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Comme pour le lapsus, Sigmund Freud fut le premier, à partir de «L'Interprétation des rêves», à attribuer une véritable signification à l'acte manqué en montrant qu'il faut le mettre en rapport avec les motifs inconscients de celui qui le commet. L'acte manqué, ou «acte accidentel», devient l'équivalent d’un symptôme dans la mesure où il est un compromis entre l'intention consciente du sujet et son désir inconscient. 2, record 3, French, - acte%20manqu%C3%A9
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Par exemple, un lapsus ou un oubli. 3, record 3, French, - acte%20manqu%C3%A9
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Simbolismo y psicología del lenguaje
Record 3, Main entry term, Spanish
- parapraxis
1, record 3, Spanish, parapraxis
correct, feminine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 3, Synonyms, Spanish
- lapsus freudiano 1, record 3, Spanish, lapsus%20freudiano
correct, masculine noun
- lapsus 1, record 3, Spanish, lapsus
correct, masculine noun
- acto fallido 1, record 3, Spanish, acto%20fallido
correct, masculine noun
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Equivocación en forma de descuido, olvido o error de palabra, oral o escrita. 1, record 3, Spanish, - parapraxis
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Los actos fallidos se deben a la irrupción en el discurso de contenidos inconscientes. 1, record 3, Spanish, - parapraxis
Record 4 - internal organization data 2022-10-28
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Symbolism and Psychology of Language
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- lapsus linguae
1, record 4, English, lapsus%20linguae
correct, Latin
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
- slip of the tongue 2, record 4, English, slip%20of%20the%20tongue
correct
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Symbolique et psychologie du langage
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- lapsus linguae
1, record 4, French, lapsus%20linguae
correct, Latin, masculine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Emploi involontaire d’un mot pour un autre en langage parlé [...] 2, record 4, French, - lapsus%20linguae
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
On distingue le lapsus oral(«lapsus linguae») et le lapsus écrit(«lapsus calami»). 3, record 4, French, - lapsus%20linguae
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Simbolismo y psicología del lenguaje
Record 4, Main entry term, Spanish
- lapsus
1, record 4, Spanish, lapsus
correct, masculine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 4, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
Record 5 - internal organization data 2015-04-01
Record 5, English
Record 5, Subject field(s)
- Rules of Court
Record 5, Main entry term, English
- accidental slip
1, record 5, English, accidental%20slip
correct
Record 5, Abbreviations, English
Record 5, Synonyms, English
Record 5, Textual support, English
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 CONT
... the issue was whether the adjudicator could alter his own decision to correct a clerical mistake or error arising from an accidental slip ... 2, record 5, English, - accidental%20slip
Record 5, French
Record 5, Domaine(s)
- Règles de procédure
Record 5, Main entry term, French
- lapsus
1, record 5, French, lapsus
correct, masculine noun
Record 5, Abbreviations, French
Record 5, Synonyms, French
Record 5, Textual support, French
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 OBS
lapsus : terme recommandé par le Comité d’uniformisation des règles de procédure civile dans le cadre du Programme national de l'administration de la justice dans les deux langues officielles(PAJLO). 2, record 5, French, - lapsus
Record 5, Spanish
Record 5, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2025
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.
Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified: