neglect

[ ni-glekt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to pay no attention or too little attention to; disregard or slight:

   The public neglected his genius for many years.

   Synonyms: ignore

2. to be remiss in the care or treatment of:

   to neglect one's family; to neglect one's appearance.

3. to omit, through indifference or carelessness:

   to neglect to reply to an invitation.

4. to fail to carry out or perform (orders, duties, etc.):

   to neglect the household chores.

5. to fail to take or use:

   to neglect no precaution.

noun

1. an act or instance of neglecting; disregard; negligence:

   The neglect of the property was shameful.

   Synonyms: heedlessness, inattention, default

   Antonyms: care, attention

2. the fact or state of being neglected:

   a beauty marred by neglect.

   Synonyms: heedlessness, inattention, default

neglect

/ nɪˈɡlɛkt /

verb

1. to fail to give due care, attention, or time to

   to neglect a child

2. to fail (to do something) through thoughtlessness or carelessness

   he neglected to tell her

3. to ignore or disregard

   she neglected his frantic signals

noun

1. lack of due care or attention; negligence

   the child starved through neglect

2. the act or an instance of neglecting or the state of being neglected

Derived Forms

• neˈglecter, noun

Other Words From

• ne·glected·ly adverb
• ne·glected·ness noun
• ne·glecter ne·glector noun
• over·ne·glect verb (used with object)
• prene·glect verb (used with object)
• quasi-ne·glected adjective
• self-ne·glect adjective
• self-ne·glecting adjective
• unne·glected adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of neglect¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin neglēctus, variant of neclēctus (past participle of neglegere, neclegere “to disregard, ignore, slight”), equivalent to nec “not” + leg-, base of legere “to pick up” + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of neglect¹

C16: from Latin neglegere to neglect, from nec not + legere to select

Synonym Study

See slight. Neglect, dereliction, negligence, remissness imply carelessness, failure, or some important omission in the performance of one's duty, a task, etc. Neglect and negligence are occasionally interchangeable, but neglect commonly refers to an instance, negligence to the habit or trait, of failing to attend to or perform what is expected or required: gross neglect of duty; negligence in handling traffic problems. Dereliction implies culpable or reprehensible neglect or failure in the performance of duty: dereliction in a position of responsibility. Remissness implies the omission or the careless or indifferent performance of a duty: remissness in filing a report on the accident.

Example Sentences

“Too often the injustices neglect nameless faces and stories,” Dandolo writes in an email.

From The Daily Beast

Those who neglect or mistrust him may be punished--indeed may deserve to be.

From The Daily Beast

As Victoria spoke, my heart broke as it does every time I hear stories of patient neglect.

From The Daily Beast

Police in Hampshire must now decide whether to extradite the Kings back to England and file kidnapping and neglect charges.

From The Daily Beast

Now their son has been taken from them and they face criminal charges of neglect and child endangerment.

From The Daily Beast

I think that there has been neglect and laxity in the matter of not driving out the Japanese.

From Project Gutenberg

“Ill-usage” expresses the date of the death of Columbus in 1506, as he died in great neglect.

From Project Gutenberg

He could not complain of the neglect of mankind, or of the ingratitude of those he served.

From Project Gutenberg

The position was irremediable; Tom's neglect and inefficiency were established beyond question.

From Project Gutenberg

But in spite of this the neglect rankled, and from that day he was no longer the blindly devoted follower of Napoleon.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• discount
• disregard
• ignore
• overlook
• reject
• spurn
• underestimate