negligence

[neg-li-juhns]

noun

1. the quality, fact, or result of being negligent; neglect.

   negligence in discharging one's responsibilities.

2. an instance of being negligent.

   a downfall brought about by many negligences.

3. Law.,  the failure to exercise that degree of care that, in the circumstances, the law requires for the protection of other persons or those interests of other persons that may be injuriously affected by the want of such care.

adjective

1. Law.,  pertaining to or involving a civil action for compensation for damages filed by a person who claims to have suffered an injury or loss in an accident caused by another's negligence.

   a negligence suit;

   a large negligence award.

negligence

/ ˈnɛɡlɪdʒəns /

noun

1. the state or quality of being negligent

2. a negligent act

3. law a civil wrong whereby a person or party is in breach of a legal duty of care to another which results in loss or injury to the claimant

Other Word Forms

• nonnegligence noun
• overnegligence noun
• prenegligence noun
• supernegligence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of negligence¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, variant of necligence, from Latin necligentia; negligent, -ence

Synonym Study

See neglect.

Example Sentences

A watchdog report released last year found that negligence, misconduct and other failures at the jail contributed to his death.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Police have said separate corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter investigations are continuing.

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Strangely, one of the show’s most captivating songs, “Pavane for a Dead Lizard,” is about a reptile that starved to death because of Victoria’s negligence.

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In the amended complaint, Singh is charged with three counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and one count of reckless driving causing a specified injury.

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While an inquest found no medical negligence, the trust has apologised for the bereavement care Freyja's parents experienced, adding it was "deeply sorry for the tragic loss".

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Related Words

• disregard 
• failure 
• laxity 
• neglect 
• oversight