remiss

American  

[ri-mis] / rɪˈmɪs /

adjective

1. negligent, careless, or slow in performing one's duty, business, etc..

   He's terribly remiss in his work.

   Synonyms:

   neglectful, slack, lax, thoughtless, derelict

2. characterized by negligence or carelessness.

   Synonyms:

   neglectful, slack, lax, thoughtless, derelict

3. lacking force or energy; languid; sluggish.

   Synonyms:

   slow, slothful, dilatory

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remiss British  

/ rɪˈmɪs /

adjective

1. lacking in care or attention to duty; negligent

2. lacking in energy; dilatory

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Related Words

See neglect.

Other Word Forms

• overremiss adjective
• overremissly adverb
• overremissness noun
• remissly adverb
• remissness noun

Etymology

Origin of remiss

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin remissus, past participle of remittere “to send back, slacken, relax”; remit

Example Sentences

However, Martinez of Earthjustice noted that NOx is the single-largest category of emissions under the South Coast AQMD’s authority, and said that the agency would be remiss not to take action on it.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2025

Another Labour MP, Stella Creasy, said it would be "remiss" of the government to ignore the concerns of her colleagues.

From BBC • May 23, 2025

Shawnee Smith in "Saw" However, we’d be remiss if we didn’t consider the “Saw” movies, which sit at the other end of Perkins’ spectrum of pastiche.

From Salon • Feb. 26, 2025

Having just written an entire article about the dangers of universalized single-cause explanations, though, I would be remiss in putting the blame for dysfunction and discontent entirely on the media.

From Slate • Dec. 19, 2024

“I would be remiss to do so twice. Pray, what are your names, children? Your full names, please.”

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi