negligence

noun

neg·​li·​gence ˈne-gli-jən(t)s How to pronounce negligence (audio)
1
a
: the quality or state of being negligent
b
: failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in like circumstances
… his naivete and negligence had been the source of his problems.Michael Leahy
2
: an act or instance of being negligent
regretted his past negligences

Examples of negligence in a Sentence

The company was charged with negligence in the manufacturing of the defective tires. exhibiting his usual negligence, he failed to set the emergency brake, and the car rolled down the steep hill and crashed into the telephone pole
Recent Examples on the Web Halls was able to get most claims against him dismissed on the grounds that Schaefer did not suffer a physical injury and thus could not claim damages for negligence. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 The lawsuit referenced wrongful death, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, loss of consortium and violation of Smith’s 14th Amendment rights. Olivia Lloyd, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2024 The lawsuit claims deprivation of liberty interest and bodily integrity, wrongful death, battery and assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, gross negligence and loss of consortium. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Despite claims made by Elon Musk’s X about negligence, waste, and misconduct, the lawsuit argues it was authorized by the company’s board and necessary to do things like pay $90 million to the lawyers who forced Elon Musk to pay $44 billion for Twitter. Richard Lawler, The Verge, 4 Mar. 2024 The oil and gas companies can raise a contributory negligence defense on two fronts. Ed Hirs, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 This means that people such as Castro, who sustain serious injuries but don’t die, will never benefit from a Cal-OSHA investigation into possible criminal negligence. Maya Miller, Sacramento Bee, 22 Feb. 2024 Both he and the armorer are accused of criminal negligence in the death of the film’s cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 29 Feb. 2024 The complaint, which names the restaurant and Disney Parks and Resorts as defendants, alleges multiple counts of negligence. Colin Sheeley, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'negligence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English necligence, neglicence, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin neglegentia, neclegentia, from neglegent-, neglegens, necligens negligent + -ia -ia entry 1

First Known Use

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

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

Dictionary Entries Near negligence

Cite this Entry

“Negligence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/negligence. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

negligence

noun
neg·​li·​gence ˈneg-li-jən(t)s How to pronounce negligence (audio)
1
a
: the quality or state of being negligent
b
: failure to take the care that a reasonably cautious person usually takes
2
: an act or instance of negligence

Legal Definition

negligence

noun
neg·​li·​gence ˈne-gli-jəns How to pronounce negligence (audio)
: failure to exercise the degree of care expected of a person of ordinary prudence in like circumstances in protecting others from a foreseeable and unreasonable risk of harm in a particular situation
also : conduct that reflects this failure

called also ordinary negligence, simple negligence

compare abuse sense 2, due care, intent

Note: Negligence may render one civilly and sometimes criminally liable for resulting injuries.

collateral negligence
: negligence on the part of an independent contractor that is not connected with a manner of working or risk ordinarily associated with particular work and for which the employer of the contractor is not liable
comparative negligence \ kəm-​ˈpar-​ə-​tiv-​ \
a : negligence of one among multiple parties involved in an injury that is measured (as in percentages) according to the degree of its contribution to the injury the comparative negligence of the plaintiff
b : a doctrine, rule, or method of apportioning liability and damages in tort law: negligence and damages are determined by reference to the proportionate fault of the plaintiff and defendant with the negligence of the plaintiff not constituting an absolute bar to recovery from the defendant compare contributory negligence in this entry

Note: The great majority of states have replaced the doctrine of contributory negligence with that of comparative negligence.

: an affirmative defense alleging comparative negligence by the plaintiff
contributory negligence
: negligence on the part of a plaintiff that contributed to the injury at issue
: a now largely abolished doctrine in tort law: negligence on the part of a plaintiff that contributed to the injury at issue will bar recovery from the defendant
also : an affirmative defense based on this doctrine
criminal negligence
: a gross deviation from the standard of care expected of a reasonable person that is manifest in a failure to protect others from a risk (as of death) deriving from one's conduct and that renders one criminally liable

called also culpable negligence

compare gross negligence in this entry
gross negligence
: negligence that is marked by conduct that presents an unreasonably high degree of risk to others and by a failure to exercise even the slightest care in protecting them from it and that is sometimes associated with conscious and willful indifference to their rights see also recklessness compare criminal negligence in this entry
negligence per se \ -​ˌpər-​ˈsā, -​ˈsē \
: negligence that consists of a violation of a statute especially designed to protect the public safety

Note: Recovery may be had on a theory of negligence per se when the harm resulting from the violation is the type that the statute is designed to prevent, the plaintiff is a member of the class of persons sought to be protected by the statute, and the violation is the proximate cause of the plaintiff's injury.

ordinary negligence
passive negligence
: failure to do something (as to discover a dangerous condition on one's property) that is not a breach of an affirmative duty and that in combination with another's act is a cause of injury
simple negligence
slight negligence
: failure to exercise the great degree of care typical of an extraordinarily prudent person

Note: The category of slight negligence is used much less frequently than ordinary negligence and gross negligence, the other members of a three-level classification that was formerly prevalent.

More from Merriam-Webster on negligence

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