neglect

verb

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ne·glect | \ ni-ˈglekt

neglected; neglecting; neglects

Definition of neglect

(Entry 1 of 2)

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.

neglect

noun

Definition of neglect (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : an act or instance of neglecting something

2 : the condition of being neglected

Other Words from neglect Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More About neglect

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Synonyms & Antonyms for neglect

Synonyms: Verb

Synonyms: Noun

Antonyms: Verb

Antonyms: Noun

keeping,
repair

Choose the Right Synonym for neglect

Verb

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 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 Tyler had been healthy, showing no signs of abuse or neglect, and had tested negative for drugs the day social workers took custody of him. — Morgan Cook, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2021 The report detailed many instances of physical abuse and neglect at the institutions. — Guy Davies, ABC News, 29 May 2021 Family Services completed its own review in February, concluding there was no credible evidence of child abuse or neglect by Pfleger. — Kathleen Foody, Star Tribune, 24 May 2021 The state abuse and neglect hotline is answered 24 hours a day at 855-323-3237. — The Salt Lake Tribune, 21 Apr. 2021 The number of fewer reports made to the Department of Child Services child abuse/neglect hotline in October 2020-January 2021 from the same time period a year before. — Indystar Staff Reports, The Indianapolis Star, 31 Mar. 2021 To make serious career progress, don’t neglect your wellbeing. — Amy Blaschka, Forbes, 5 June 2021 And outside the lab, faced with grinding stressors like insufficient food, animals may neglect their babies. — Abigail Tucker, Time, 4 May 2021 Family Services completed its own review in February, concluding there was no credible evidence of child abuse or neglect by Pfleger. — Kathleen Foody, USA TODAY, 25 May 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun This kind of neglect should hardly come as a shock. — Michael Specter, The New Yorker, 7 June 2021 But after years of neglect by a string of operators, the ship needs $23 million in immediate repairs, according to court documents and inspection reports released last month. — Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2021 The local authorities detained Nahla’s father for several weeks on suspicion of neglect, but he was released without charge this past week. — New York Times, 30 May 2021 In 2018, the Morandi bridge in Genoa collapsed after years of neglect, killing 43 people. — Nicole Winfield, ajc, 23 May 2021 In 2018, the Morandi bridge in Genoa collapsed after years of neglect, killing 43 people. — Nicole Winfield, Anchorage Daily News, 23 May 2021 In 2018, the Morandi bridge in Genoa collapsed after years of neglect, killing 43 people. — BostonGlobe.com, 23 May 2021 In 2018, the Morandi bridge in Genoa collapsed after years of neglect, killing 43 people. — Nicole Winfield, Star Tribune, 23 May 2021 His natural empathy makes up for the fact that those people now have been gulled into mistaking their period of widest acceptance, visibility, and power for a moment of neglect. — Armond White, National Review, 19 May 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'neglect.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for neglect

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."

Noun

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

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Last Updated

22 Jun 2021

Cite this Entry

“Neglect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neglect. Accessed 23 Jun. 2021.

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More Definitions for neglect

neglect

verb

English Language Learners Definition of neglect

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to fail to take care of or to give attention to (someone or something)

: to fail to do (something)

neglect

noun

English Language Learners Definition of neglect (Entry 2 of 2)

: lack of attention or care that someone or something needs

: the condition of not being taken care of

See the full definition for neglect in the English Language Learners Dictionary

neglect

verb

ne·glect | \ ni-ˈglekt

neglected; neglecting

Kids Definition of neglect

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to fail to give the right amount of attention to The property has been neglected.

2 : to fail to do or look after especially because of carelessness She neglected to say goodbye.

neglect

noun

Kids Definition of neglect (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : lack of attention or care to something or someone neglect of duty

2 : the state of not being looked after or given attention The house suffers from neglect.

Choose the Right Synonym for neglect

Verb

neglect and disregard mean to pass over something without giving it any or enough attention. neglect is used when a person does not give, whether deliberately or not, enough attention to something that deserves or requires attention. You have been neglecting your homework. disregard is used for deliberately overlooking something usually because it is not considered worth noticing. He disregarded the "keep out" sign.

neglect

noun

ne·glect

Legal Definition of neglect

: 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