negligent
NEG-li-juhnt
/ˈneɡlɪdʒənt/
Failing to take proper care in doing something, resulting in damage, injury, or loss.
Suggests a habitual or careless disregard for duty, rather than a deliberate intent to cause harm.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'neglegentem', present participle of 'neglegere' (to disregard, neglect). This Latin verb is a compound of 'nec' (not) and 'legere' (to gather, choose, or pick up). Literally, to be negligent is to 'not pick up' your duties or responsibilities.
Word relationships
- careless: Careless is an everyday word for not paying attention, while negligent is a formal, often legal term implying a breach of a duty of care.
- lax: Lax implies a general looseness or lack of discipline, whereas negligent focuses on a specific failure of duty.
- diligent: Showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties.
- attentive: Paying close attention to something; alert and watchful.
Commonly confused with
- neglectful: Neglectful is generally used for personal relationships or habits (e.g., a neglectful parent), while negligent is used for professional or legal failures (e.g., a negligent driver).
Word family
- negligence (noun): Failure to take proper care in doing something.
- negligently (adverb): In a negligent or careless manner.
Collocations
- negligent behavior
- grossly negligent
- negligent in
Idioms & expressions
- asleep at the wheel
Example sentences
- "The hospital was sued after a negligent nurse administered the wrong dosage of medication." Medical Malpractice
- "The factory owners were found negligent for failing to install proper fire escapes." Safety Compliance
Memory hook
Think of 'neglect'. If you 'neglect' your chores, you are being 'negligent'. If you neglect your duties, you are negligent.
When not to use
Do not use to describe intentional acts of sabotage; negligent implies carelessness, not malice.
Fun facts
- In civil law, 'gross negligence' is defined as a conscious and voluntary disregard of the need to use reasonable care, which is highly likely to cause grave injury.
Explore more words
negligence, inattention, recklessness, reckless, heedless, imprudent
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