Negligence — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈne-gli-jən(t)s/ neg·li·gence

Meaning & Definition of Negligence

Negligence (noun)

  1. the quality or state of being negligent
  2. failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in like circumstances
  3. an act or instance of being negligent

Negligence (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. failure to take the care that a cautious person usually takes

    "exhibiting his usual negligence, he failed to set the emergency brake, and the car rolled down the steep hill and crashed into the telephone pole"

    similar: carelessness, dereliction, heedlessness, incaution, incautiousness, laxness, neglectfulness, remissness, slackness
    related: foolhardiness, rashness, recklessness, wildness, neglect, omission, delinquency, irresponsibility, irresponsibleness, malfeasance, malpractice, misconduct, misdirection, mishandling, mismanagement, forgetfulness, inadvertence, inadvertency, inattention, inattentiveness, obliviousness, shortsightedness, unwariness
    opposite: care, carefulness, caution, cautiousness, heedfulness
    near: alertness, attention, attentiveness, awareness, circumspection, observance, vigilance, watchfulness, responsibility, responsibleness

  2. the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action

    "the factory's owners are being charged with criminal negligence for the fire that killed a dozen workers"

    similar: default, delinquency, dereliction, failure, misprision, neglect, nonfeasance, oversight
    related: carelessness, heedlessness, inadvertence, inadvertency, laxity
    near: compliance, discharge, fulfillment

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Negligence

The most common words with a similar meaning to Negligence:

carelessness, dereliction, heedlessness, incaution, incautiousness, laxness, neglectfulness, remissness, slackness, default, delinquency, failure, misprision, neglect, nonfeasance, oversight

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Negligence

Words with the opposite meaning of Negligence:

care, carefulness, caution, cautiousness, heedfulness

Related Words for Negligence

foolhardiness, rashness, recklessness, wildness, omission, irresponsibility, irresponsibleness, malfeasance, malpractice, misconduct, misdirection, mishandling, mismanagement, forgetfulness, inadvertence, inadvertency, inattention, inattentiveness, obliviousness, shortsightedness, unwariness, laxity

Near Antonyms of Negligence

alertness, attention, attentiveness, awareness, circumspection, observance, vigilance, watchfulness, responsibility, responsibleness, compliance, discharge, fulfillment

Origin & Etymology of Negligence

Middle English necligence, neglicence, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin neglegentia, neclegentia, from neglegent-, neglegens, necligens negligent + -ia -ia:1

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Negligence

culpable negligence

Frequently Asked Questions about Negligence

What does "Negligence" mean?

"Negligence" means the quality or state of being negligent. As a noun, it is defined as: the quality or state of being negligent. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Negligence"?

Other words for "Negligence" include carelessness, dereliction, heedlessness, incaution, incautiousness, laxness, neglectfulness and remissness. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Negligence" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Negligence"?

There are 38 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Negligence". Common alternatives include carelessness, dereliction, heedlessness, incaution, incautiousness, laxness, neglectfulness, remissness, slackness and default.

What is the opposite of "Negligence"?

Antonyms of "Negligence" include care, carefulness, caution, cautiousness and heedfulness. Near antonyms include alertness, attention, attentiveness and awareness.

How do you use "Negligence" in a sentence?

Examples of "Negligence" in a sentence: "exhibiting his usual negligence, he failed to set the emergency brake, and the car rolled down the steep hill and crashed into the telephone pole"; "the factory's owners are being charged with criminal negligence for the fire that killed a dozen workers".

Is "Negligence" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Negligence" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Negligence"?

"Negligence" is pronounced /ˈne-gli-jən(t)s/ and divided into syllables as neg·li·gence.

What is the origin of the word "Negligence"?

"Negligence" comes from Middle English necligence, neglicence, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin neglegentia, neclegentia, from neglegent-, neglegens, necligens negligent + -ia -ia:1. First known use: 14th century.