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criminal negligence

American  
[krim-uh-nl neg-li-juhns] / ˈkrɪm ə nl ˈnɛg lɪ dʒəns /

noun

Law.

  1. an act or practice of negligence in which a person, disregarding what is reasonable to insure the care, safety, and protection of others, such as by leaving a loaded gun within reach of a child, is criminally liable for any consequential harm or death.

Etymology

Origin of criminal negligence

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Criminal negligence occurs when more extreme actions result in more extreme harm.

From Slate • Aug. 20, 2024

Now that he had come down to the brass tacks, the journalists' pens went galloping over the pads: "Criminal negligence," they scribbled.

From The Brain by Blade, Alexander

Criminal negligence would be a more appropriate name.

From Brann the Iconoclast — Volume 10 by Brann, William Cowper

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.