negligent

adjective

neg·​li·​gent ˈne-gli-jənt How to pronounce negligent (audio)
1
a
: marked by or given to neglect especially habitually or culpably
was a careless workman, negligent of detailsEdith Hamilton
b
: failing to exercise the care expected of a reasonably prudent person in like circumstances
negligent about traffic regulations
2
: marked by a carelessly easy manner
negligently adverb

Did you know?

To be negligent is to be neglectful. Negligence is an important legal concept; it's usually defined as the failure to use the care that a normally careful person would in a given situation. Negligence is a common claim in lawsuits regarding medical malpractice, auto accidents, and workplace injuries. But you can also be negligent about answering your email, or negligent in the way you dress. (The original garment called a negligee was worn by women who had neglected to get fully dressed.) The legal meanings of negligent and negligence, however, tend to be the ones we most often encounter nowadays.

Choose the Right Synonym for negligent

negligent, neglectful, lax, slack, remiss mean culpably careless or indicative of such carelessness.

negligent implies inattention to one's duty or business.

negligent about writing a note of thanks

neglectful adds a more disapproving implication of laziness or deliberate inattention.

a society callously neglectful of the poor

lax implies a blameworthy lack of strictness, severity, or precision.

a reporter lax about accurate quotation

slack implies want of due or necessary diligence or care.

slack workmanship

remiss implies blameworthy carelessness shown in slackness, forgetfulness, or neglect.

had been remiss in their familial duties

Examples of negligent in a Sentence

The fire was started by a negligent smoker. He was negligent in not reporting the accident to the police.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This vehicle had a negligent safety driver who was ignoring the road, and was later convicted of neligence for doing so, though Uber also acted badly in managing and training their safety drivers. Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025 The fourth episode depicts him as a negligent and emotionally abusive lover to Satan, further connecting him to the show’s previous portrayals of Saddam Hussein. Nick Marx, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025 The woman, referred to as Jane Doe in the lawsuit, is suing Uber for negligence and negligent training and supervision of its drivers. Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 10 Sep. 2025 Vasquez was charged with second-degree cruelty to juveniles and negligent homicide. Angel Saunders, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for negligent

Word History

Etymology

Middle English necligent, negligent, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin neglegent-, neglegens (also neclegens, negligens), present participle of neglegere, neclegere "to disregard, do nothing about, fail to care for" — more at neglect entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of negligent was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Negligent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/negligent. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

negligent

adjective
neg·​li·​gent ˈneg-li-jənt How to pronounce negligent (audio)
1
: marked by or likely to show neglect
2
: failing to take proper or normal care
negligently adverb

Legal Definition

negligent

adjective
neg·​li·​gent ˈne-gli-jənt How to pronounce negligent (audio)
: marked by, given to, or produced by negligence
a negligent act
the defendant was negligent
negligently adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on negligent

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