WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
le•nis
(lē′nis, lā′-),USA pronunciation adj., n., pl. le•nes (lē′nēz, lā′-).USA pronunciation [Phonet.]
adj.
n.
adj.
- Phoneticspronounced with relatively weak muscular tension and breath pressure, resulting in weak sound effect: in stressed or unstressed position, (b, d, g, j, v, ᵺ, z, and zh) are lenis in English, as compared with (p, t, k, ch, f, th, s, and sh), which are fortis. Cf. fortis (def. 1).
n.
- Phoneticsa lenis consonant.
- Latin: soft, mild, gentle
- 1925–30
'lenis' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):