disregard

American  

[dis-ri-gahrd] / ˌdɪs rɪˈgɑrd /

verb (used with object)

1. to pay no attention to; leave out of consideration; ignore.

   Disregard the footnotes.

   Synonyms:

   ignore

   Antonyms:

   notice

2. to treat without due regard, respect, or attentiveness; slight.

   to disregard an invitation.

   Synonyms:

   insult

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noun

1. lack of regard or attention; neglect.

   Synonyms:

   oversight, inattention

2. lack of due or respectful regard.

   Synonyms:

   slight, disrespect

disregard British  

/ ˌdɪsrɪˈɡɑːd /

verb

1. to give little or no attention to; ignore

2. to treat as unworthy of consideration or respect

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noun

1. lack of attention or respect

2. (often plural) social welfare capital or income which is not counted in calculating the amount payable to a claimant for a means-tested benefit

Related Words

See slight.

Other Word Forms

• disregardable adjective
• disregarder noun
• disregardful adjective
• disregardfully adverb
• disregardfulness noun

Etymology

Origin of disregard

First recorded in 1635–45; dis- ¹ + regard

Explanation

If everyone at the city council meeting tends to disregard anything that's said by the eccentric gentleman with the parrot on his shoulder, it means that no one pays any attention to him. To disregard something is to ignore it, or to deliberately pay it no attention. Sometimes the word is used to mean "neglect," implying that something important is not being taken care of. Disregard can also be a noun; you could complain that your family has a complete disregard for your privacy when they gather outside your bedroom door to eavesdrop on your telephone conversations.

Example Sentences

It’s true he’s not in his right mind, but it’s just another instance of the casual disregard of the character’s moment-to-moment reality.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

The Everton Fan Advisory Board called it "another signal of the disregard footballing authorities and broadcasters have for supporters".

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

That means Disney and ABC either chose to disregard its existence, or gambled – correctly, it turns out – that the public wouldn’t bother to look too deeply into what happened.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

From Epstein’s associates to Jack Dorsey to David Ellison, the rich and powerful share a seeming disregard for proper English.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026

Lara rhymed quietly and nervously—and with even more flagrant disregard for the beat than me.

From "Looking for Alaska" by John Green

Related Words

• apathy
• contempt
• disdain
• disrespect
• inattention
• indifference
• neglect
• negligence
• scorn