neglect

verb

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

Keep scrolling for more

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

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.

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

The reason for ending the relationship is mismanagement in the past several years and neglecting my interests. — Kat Bein, Billboard, "Dash Berlin Frontman Splits With Group, Booking Agency," 18 June 2018 Watching my expression strain the edges of earnest belief, someone made a comment Passarinho tactfully neglected to translate. — Longreads, "Where Have You Hidden the Cholera?," 5 Apr. 2018 In her angelic likeness of Nur, Ms. Lal neglects only the nimbus. — Maxwell Carter, WSJ, "‘Empress’ Review: Light of the Mughal World," 13 July 2018 Hofschulz also routinely neglected to take or document her patients' vital signs. — Bruce Vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Owner of a Wauwatosa pain clinic is charged as part of a nationwide opioids crackdown," 29 June 2018 Wrigley Field is an extremely lovable, 6-year-old mix who was neglected, living outside on a chain his whole life. — Staff Report, Daily Southtown, "These Southland pets need new homes," 26 June 2018 Meanwhile, the vacuous Nasir, Nas’s first album since his 2012 post-divorce record, Life Is Good, neglected to address the fact that ex-wife, Kelis, had recounted details of Nas’s alleged abuse just weeks prior to the album’s release. — Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, "Teyana Taylor’s Music Has Matured, but Has Her Label?," 25 June 2018 In addition, don’t neglect special touches for walls, table sides and accents, the article stated. — Valerie Sweeten, Houston Chronicle, "On the Market/Condo Life: Luxury furnishings complete the high-rise lifestyle," 24 June 2018 The Post neglected to reach out to the department of justice and now the story has been corrected. — Fox News, "Border Patrol official: Disgusting to attack border agents," 22 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

In two instances, patients called the hospital’s abuse/neglect line in early May with concerns about physician care and receiving funds related to a family death. — Washington Post, "US: Care lacking at troubled Washington psychiatric hospital," 27 June 2018 In all, ideal conditions — ennui, randomness, neglect — for a cartoonist. — Christopher Borrelli, chicagotribune.com, "Cartoonist Carol Tyler recounts her Beatles-obsessed childhood in Chicago," 15 June 2018 Charge: Conduct that discredits his employer, dishonesty, neglect of duty. — Adam Ashton, sacbee, "Poop jokes, trash talk and a gun at work – a look at Cal Fire's crackdown on misconduct | The Sacramento Bee," 24 May 2018 Often, parents whose children die after being left in cars are charged with manslaughter or prosecuted for neglect. — NBC News, "Hot cars and kids: Study shows killer temps hit in an hour," 24 May 2018 The mother, Ina Rogers, a 30-year-old Fairfield resident, was arrested and booked into Solano County Jail for child neglect. — Fox News, "Ten children rescued from unsafe living conditions in California, parents arrested, cops announce," 14 May 2018 Blouin was arrested on charges of criminal mistreatment , child neglect, endangering the welfare of a minor, and assault for an injury authorities believe his son suffered while in Blouin's care, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office said. — Michael Katz, idahostatesman, "Missing 1-year-old in Oregon found unharmed, naked in the woods | Idaho Statesman," 11 May 2018 The following day, a Lorain County Children Services caseworker came to the station to report that a woman had interfered with her investigation into a complaint of child abuse/neglect at the same residence. — Cheryl Higley, cleveland.com, "Worker reports possible drunken driver: Avon Lake Police Blotter," 7 May 2018 The children's mother, Sherry Davis, was addicted to drugs, and the state documented regular instances of neglect. — Joe Heim And Julie Tate, chicagotribune.com, "As children begged for help, adoption system failed them," 13 July 2018

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about neglect

Dictionary Entries near neglect

Statistics for neglect

Last Updated

7 Nov 2018

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for neglect

The first known use of neglect was in 1529

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

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.

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