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negligence

NEG-lih-juhnss /ˈnɛɡlɪdʒəns/

nounC1SATGRETOEFLUPSC

FormalLegal

Failure to take proper care in doing something, resulting in damage or injury to another.

Focuses on carelessness or failure to meet a standard duty of care, rather than intentional malice.

The story behind the word. From Old French negligence, stemming from Latin neglegentia ('carelessness'), which comes from neglegere ('to neglect'). Formed by combining nec ('not') and legere ('to pick up or choose'). Negligence is literally failing to 'pick up' or heed what a reasonable person would notice.

Word relationships

carelessness: Everyday non-technical term for failing to pay attention.
dereliction: Emphasizes willful neglect of duty, particularly in official or corporate capacities.

diligence: Careful, persistent effort and attention to duty.
prudence: Cautious and wise judgment avoiding unnecessary risks.

Commonly confused with

recklessness: Negligence is careless failure to act safely; recklessness is conscious disregard of a known high risk.

Word family

negligent (adjective): Failing to take proper care.
negligently (adverb): In a negligent manner.

Collocations

gross negligence
contributory negligence
comparative negligence
alleged negligence

Example sentences

"The property owner was found guilty of gross negligence after failing to repair the crumbling staircase." Civil liability verdict
"The hospital faced severe claims of medical negligence after surgeons operated on the wrong knee." Medical malpractice case

Memory hook

NEGLECTing your legal duty leads to NEGLIGENcE. Failure to take proper care.

When not to use

Do not use when harm was caused intentionally with deliberate malice; use 'intentional wrongdoing' instead.

Fun facts

In legal tort law, proving negligence requires establishing four elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages.