neglect
[ ni-glekt ]
/ nɪˈglɛkt /
verb (used with object)
noun
an act or instance of neglecting; disregard; negligence: The neglect of the property was shameful.
the fact or state of being neglected: a beauty marred by neglect.
Words nearby neglect
negaton, negator, negatory, negatron, negev, neglect, neglectful, negligee, negligence, negligent, negligible
Origin of neglect
1520–30; < 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
SYNONYMS FOR neglect
6, 7 default, inattention, heedlessness. 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.
OTHER WORDS FROM neglect
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Examples from the Web for neglect
British Dictionary definitions for neglect
neglect
/ (nɪˈɡlɛkt) /
verb (tr)
to fail to give due care, attention, or time toto neglect a child
to fail (to do something) through thoughtlessness or carelessnesshe neglected to tell her
to ignore or disregardshe neglected his frantic signals
noun
lack of due care or attention; negligencethe child starved through neglect
the act or an instance of neglecting or the state of being neglected
Derived forms of neglect
neglecter or neglector, nounWord Origin for neglect
C16: from Latin neglegere to neglect, from nec not + legere to select
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012