Definition of neglect
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
nounPeople Are Reading
Examples of neglect in a Sentence
The building has been neglected for years.
The city has neglected the teacher shortage for too long.
The prison guard neglected his duty.
Recent Examples of neglect from the Web
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Decades ago, they were neglected, but they are now maintained beautifully, thanks to a joint private-public partnership between the Friends of Acadia and the National Park Service.
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Some gave patients the wrong medications, failed to protect them from violent or bullying residents and staff members, or neglected to tell families or physicians about injuries, inspection records show.
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For all the love plus-size bathing suits and bras have been getting lately, there’s one area of fashion that’s remained neglected: the accessories.
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Enjoy, and feel free to vote for write-in candidates neglected by my ballot.
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In the case of the Manderley, the Parkers said, the previous owner had converted the building into 12 apartments, stripping away most of its woodwork and neglecting the property.
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Don’t neglect individual work, Manning told him, for team drills.
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Don’t neglect individual work, Manning told him, for team drills.
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Five have been stabbed and others have been burned or neglected, police reports show.
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.
Synonym Discussion of neglect
neglect
Definition of neglect
1 : an act or instance of neglecting something
2 : the condition of being neglected
Examples of neglect in a Sentence
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 of neglect from the Web
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The congressional moves and neglect by the Trump administration are already sabotaging Obamacare.
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But as the projects lapsed into neglect and disrepair, Berkeley Avenue also deteriorated in their shadow.
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The protests that began in Oromia in 2015 over alleged land grabs and political neglect later spread to the Amhara region, with security forces accused of killing at least 600 demonstrators, according to the Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia.
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Hummel faces from 20 to 40 years for the neglect resulting in death charge, 10 to 30 years on the battery charge, and one to six years on the reckless homicide charge.
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WHETHER from neglect, lack of rain or water-use restrictions, many plants end their days a sorry mess: brown and brittle in parched patio containers or desiccated in balcony planters.
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Or there are circumstances at home — perhaps hoarding, perhaps physical neglect — that an older adult doesn’t want someone to see.
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The five third-graders all fell into the high-risk category of children exposed to multiple instances of abuse, violence and neglect.
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The Department of Veterans Affairs announced in October 2014 that Talton had been removed from federal service after an investigation by the Office of Accountability Review substantiated allegations of neglect of duty.
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.
Origin and Etymology of neglect
see 1neglect
NEGLECT Defined for English Language Learners
neglect
playDefinition of neglect for English Language Learners
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: to fail to take care of or to give attention to (someone or something)
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: to fail to do (something)
neglect
Definition of neglect for English Language Learners
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: lack of attention or care that someone or something needs
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: the condition of not being taken care of
NEGLECT Defined for Kids
Definition of neglect for Students
neglected
;neglecting
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.
Definition of neglect for Students
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.
Law Dictionary
neglect
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 2, negligence
neglect
transitive verbneglectful
adjectiveLearn More about neglect
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See words that rhyme with neglect Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for neglect Spanish Central: Translation of neglect Nglish: Translation of neglect for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of neglect for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
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