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.
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
Words nearby neglect
negaton,
negator,
negatory,
negatron,
negev,
neglect,
neglectful,
negligee,
negligence,
negligent,
negligible
Example sentences from the Web for neglect
British Dictionary definitions for neglect
neglect
/ (nɪˈɡlɛkt) /
verb (tr)
to fail to give due care, attention, or time to
to neglect a child
to fail (to do something) through thoughtlessness or carelessness
he neglected to tell her
to ignore or disregard
she neglected his frantic signals
noun
lack of due care or attention; negligence
the 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