neglect

1 of 2

verb

ne·​glect ni-ˈglekt 

neglected; neglecting; neglects

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 noun

neglect

2 of 2

noun

1

: an act or instance of neglecting something

2

: the condition of being neglected

The house was in a state of neglect.

Synonyms of neglect

Verb

• ignore
• forget

Noun

• disrepair

Choose the Right Synonym for neglect

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

Late last year, the county agreed to pay nearly $5 million to the family of Michael Wilson, who died from a treatable heart condition after jail staff neglected to give him his prescribed medication. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2025

Williams’ drama, set in a British coastal town, follows the evolving relationship between two neighbors, Colleen and Elsie, after Colleen intervenes when the elderly Elsie appears neglected by her caregivers. —Essie Assibu, Variety, 22 Nov. 2025

Noun

The job can be emotional at times, with extreme cases of neglect and cruelty. —Laura L. Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Nov. 2025

There are, however, consequences if a child suffers harm as a result of neglect. —John Tufts, IndyStar, 25 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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." See also note at -algia.

Noun

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

First Known Use

Verb

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing neglect

• benign neglect

Rhymes for neglect

• affect
• aspect
• bedecked
• bisect
• collect
• connect
• correct
• deflect
• detect
• direct
• dissect
• effect

Kids Definition

neglect

1 of 2 verb

ne·​glect ni-ˈglekt 

1

: to give little attention or respect to

neglected their garden

2

: to leave undone or not attended to especially through carelessness

don't neglect to feed the fish

neglecter noun

neglect

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act or instance of neglecting something

his neglect of important responsibilities

2

: the condition of being neglected

the stone wall was collapsing from years of neglect

Legal Definition

neglect

noun

ne·​glect

: 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

neglect transitive verb

neglectful adjective