negligent

adjective

neg·​li·​gent ˈne-gli-jənt How to pronounce negligent (audio)
1
a
: marked by or given to neglect especially habitually or culpably
was a careless workman, negligent of detailsEdith Hamilton
b
: failing to exercise the care expected of a reasonably prudent person in like circumstances
negligent about traffic regulations
2
: marked by a carelessly easy manner
negligently adverb

Did you know?

To be negligent is to be neglectful. Negligence is an important legal concept; it's usually defined as the failure to use the care that a normally careful person would in a given situation. Negligence is a common claim in lawsuits regarding medical malpractice, auto accidents, and workplace injuries. But you can also be negligent about answering your email, or negligent in the way you dress. (The original garment called a negligee was worn by women who had neglected to get fully dressed.) The legal meanings of negligent and negligence, however, tend to be the ones we most often encounter nowadays.

Choose the Right Synonym for negligent

negligent, neglectful, lax, slack, remiss mean culpably careless or indicative of such carelessness.

negligent implies inattention to one's duty or business.

negligent about writing a note of thanks

neglectful adds a more disapproving implication of laziness or deliberate inattention.

a society callously neglectful of the poor

lax implies a blameworthy lack of strictness, severity, or precision.

a reporter lax about accurate quotation

slack implies want of due or necessary diligence or care.

slack workmanship

remiss implies blameworthy carelessness shown in slackness, forgetfulness, or neglect.

had been remiss in their familial duties

Examples of negligent in a Sentence

The fire was started by a negligent smoker. He was negligent in not reporting the accident to the police.
Recent Examples on the Web The testimony of Halls, who pleaded no contest last year to negligent use of a firearm and completed six months of unsupervised parole, may weigh significantly as prosecutors reconstruct the chain of events and custody of ammunition that led to the shooting. CBS News, 1 Mar. 2024 David Halls was previously charged with negligent use of a deadly weapon and served six months probation as part of a plea deal. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024 Halls has pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor for negligent handling of a weapon in the case. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 27 Feb. 2024 The 19-page lawsuit alleges the wait staff was negligent toward his wife’s severe food allergies. Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024 The lawsuit, filed in October, had alleged wrongful death and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2024 Some of the claims in the lawsuit include breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and collusion and conspiracy. Antonio Planas, NBC News, 8 Feb. 2024 Assistant Director Dave Halls entered a no-contest plea to a misdemeanor charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon last Mach. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024 This provision aims to clarify potential ambiguities under existing state law regarding an employer’s liability for negligent hiring when hiring an individual with an expunged criminal record who subsequently engages in misconduct. Alonzo Martinez, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'negligent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English necligent, negligent, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin neglegent-, neglegens (also neclegens, negligens), present participle of neglegere, neclegere "to disregard, do nothing about, fail to care for" — more at neglect entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of negligent was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near negligent

Cite this Entry

“Negligent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/negligent. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

negligent

adjective
neg·​li·​gent ˈneg-li-jənt How to pronounce negligent (audio)
1
: marked by or likely to show neglect
2
: failing to take proper or normal care
negligently adverb

Legal Definition

negligent

adjective
neg·​li·​gent ˈne-gli-jənt How to pronounce negligent (audio)
: marked by, given to, or produced by negligence
a negligent act
the defendant was negligent
negligently adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on negligent

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