neglect

1 of 3

verb

ne·​glect ni-ˈglekt 

neglected; neglecting; neglects

transitive verb

1

: to give little attention or respect to : disregard

The building has been neglected for years.

2

: to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness

The prison guard neglected his duty.

neglecter noun

neglect

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

: an act or instance of neglecting something

2

: the condition of being neglected

The house was in a state of neglect.

neglecter

3 of 3

noun (2)

ne·​glect·​er

variants or less commonly neglector

-tə(r)

plural -s

: one that neglects

Synonyms of neglect

Verb

• ignore
• forget

Noun (1)

• disrepair

Choose the Right Synonym for neglect

neglect, disregard, ignore, overlook, slight, forget mean to pass over without giving due attention.

neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention.

habitually neglected his studies

disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

disregarded the wishes of his family

ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.

ignored the snide remark

overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care.

in my rush I overlooked a key example

slight implies contemptuous or disdainful disregarding or omitting.

slighted several major authors in her survey

forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.

forget what others say

Examples of neglect in a Sentence

Verb

The building has been neglected for years.

The city has neglected the teacher shortage for too long.

The prison guard neglected his duty.

Noun (1)

The park was overgrown and littered from years of neglect.

The parents were charged with child neglect.

The house is in a state of neglect.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But this perspective sometimes seems to suggests that emergency calls and late-night cases are personal choices to neglect the family rather than necessary sacrifices. — Alexandra Kharazi, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Not neglecting him, of course, but not over-relying on a player who will turn 37 in October. — Vahe Gregorian july 30, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026

Noun

Disturbing jailhouse conversations don’t connect mother to murders Allegations of drug abuse and child neglect against Marcee Gray were already well established by the time her son Colt entered guilty pleas on 55 counts. — Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026

This neglect creates a ceiling for employee growth and fuels disengagement, highlighting a strategic failure to invest in a vital capability layer. — Cindy Rodriguez Constable, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

borrowed from Latin neglēctus, past participle of neglegere, neclegere "to disregard, do nothing about, fail to care for," from nec "not" (probably from ne- "not" + -ce, deictic element, going back to Indo-European *ḱe, *ḱi) + legere "to gather, select, read" — more at no entry 1, he entry 1, legend

Note: The Latin formative nec in this word and (with invariable voicing) in negō, negāre "to deny" (see negate) and negōtium "business, difficulty" (see negotiate) is presumably identical with Old Latin nec "not" and distinct from nec as a reduced form of neque "and not." See also note at -algia.

Noun (1)

borrowed from Latin neglēctus, from neglegere, neclegere "to disregard, do nothing about, neglect entry 1" + -tus, suffix of verbal action

Noun (2)

neglecter from neglect entry 1 + -er; neglector from Late Latin, from Latin neglectus (past participle of neglegere) + -or -or

First Known Use

Verb

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing neglect

• benign neglect

Rhymes for neglect

• affect
• aspect
• bedecked
• bisect
• collect
• connect
• correct
• deflect
• detect
• direct
• dissect
• effect

Kids Definition

neglect

1 of 2 verb

ne·​glect ni-ˈglekt 

1

: to give little attention or respect to

neglected their garden

2

: to leave undone or not attended to especially through carelessness

don't neglect to feed the fish

neglecter noun

neglect

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act or instance of neglecting something

his neglect of important responsibilities

2

: the condition of being neglected

the stone wall was collapsing from years of neglect

Legal Definition

neglect

noun

ne·​glect

: a disregard of duty resulting from carelessness, indifference, or willfulness

especially : a failure to provide a child under one's care with proper food, clothing, shelter, supervision, medical care, or emotional stability compare abuse sense 2, negligence

neglect transitive verb

neglectful adjective