lapse

/læps/ noun

Definition

› [C] a mistake that is made because of a temporary lack of attention to something: lapse in sth There had been a lapse in security at the company, and the personal details of hundreds of customers had been made public. a security lapse

› [C, usually singular] a period of time that passes between two things happening: The company will resume paying a quarterly dividend on common shares, following a two-year lapse. a time lapse

(Definition of lapse noun from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)