negligence

neg·li·gence

noun \ˈne-gli-jən(t)s\

Definition of NEGLIGENCE

1

a : the quality or state of being negligent

b : failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in like circumstances

2

: an act or instance of being negligent

Examples of NEGLIGENCE

1. The company was charged with negligence in the manufacturing of the defective tires.
2. <exhibiting his usual negligence, he failed to set the emergency brake, and the car rolled down the steep hill and crashed into the telephone pole>

First Known Use of NEGLIGENCE

14th century

Related to NEGLIGENCE

Synonyms

carelessness, dereliction, heedlessness, incaution, incautiousness, laxness, neglectfulness, remissness, slackness

Antonyms

care, carefulness, caution, cautiousness, heedfulness

Related Words

foolhardiness, rashness, recklessness, wildness; neglect, omission; delinquency, irresponsibility, irresponsibleness, malfeasance, malpractice, misconduct; misdirection, mishandling, mismanagement; forgetfulness, inadvertence, inadvertency, inattention, inattentiveness, obliviousness, shortsightedness, unwariness

Near Antonyms

alertness, attention, attentiveness, awareness; circumspection, observance, vigilance, watchfulness; responsibility, responsibleness

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

negligence

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In law, failure to exercise the degree of care expected of a person of ordinary prudence in protecting others from a risk of harm. It may render one civilly and sometimes criminally liable for resulting injuries. The doctrine of negligence does not require the elimination of all risk, but rather only foreseeable and unreasonable risk. Thus a higher standard applies to explosives manufacturers than to manufacturers of kitchen matches. The plaintiff must ordinarily prove the defendant's negligence with a preponderance of evidence. See also contributory negligence.