inattention
AmericanEtymology
Origin of inattention
Explanation
When you don't pay full attention to something or someone, that's inattention. Your inattention while you're driving can lead to mistakes like running a red light or bumping into the car in front of you. If you're not focusing on something enough, you're guilty of inattention. Inattention can be dangerous when you're flying a plane, taking a math test, or babysitting an active toddler. When you add the "not" prefix in- to attention (which comes from the Latin attendere, "give heed to," or literally "stretch toward"), you get inattention.
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.
Her book is the message in a bottle, urging us to connect more deeply with our inattention.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
It is characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that can interfere with daily life, including school, work, and relationships.
From Science Daily • Mar. 17, 2026
Prosecutor Adrian Stalker said his driving had been dangerous and was "not just a lack of judgement or momentary inattention".
From BBC • Oct. 8, 2025
The report highlights evidence linking synthetic dyes to hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity, particularly in children with ADHD.
From Salon • Jan. 23, 2025
Cora hoped the musicians wouldn’t think them rude for their inattention.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
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.
