Crossword Genius

Misses reportedly loose (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lacks

'misses' is the definition.
(lacking is a kind of missing)

'reportedly loose' is the wordplay.
'reportedly' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'loose' becomes 'lax' ('lax' is associated in meaning with 'loose').
'lax' is a homophone of 'LACKS'.

(Other definitions for lacks that I've seen before include "Wants, is deficient in" , "Doesn't have" , "Has a want" , "Needs" , "Is without, wants" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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