benign neglect

noun

: an attitude or policy of ignoring an often delicate or undesirable situation that one is held to be responsible for dealing with

Examples of benign neglect in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But even this private market existed mostly with benign neglect from the state, not through the rigorous enforcement of property rights and contracts, as under capitalism. —Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026

This is good opportunity to integrate more benign neglect into your parenting style. —Alex Vance, Parents, 25 Feb. 2026

And though the game didn’t exactly explode in popularity during that period of benign neglect, estimates from MMO Populations suggest a few hundred to a few thousand players have been jetpacking around the game’s world daily. —ArsTechnica, 5 Jan. 2026

In fact, Claire’s neighbor Jeanne Wang-Wasserman, played with subtle snobbish disdain by veteran actress Joan Chen, fuels her ire almost as much as her family’s benign neglect. —Rodney Ho, Boston Herald, 14 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for benign neglect

• aftereffect
• interconnect
• affect
• aspect
• bedecked
• bisect
• collect
• connect
• correct
• deflect
• detect
• direct