neglect

[ ni-glekt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to pay no attention or too little attention to; disregard or slight:

   The public neglected his genius for many years.

   Synonyms: ignore

2. to be remiss in the care or treatment of:

   to neglect one's family; to neglect one's appearance.

3. to omit, through indifference or carelessness:

   to neglect to reply to an invitation.

4. to fail to carry out or perform (orders, duties, etc.):

   to neglect the household chores.

5. to fail to take or use:

   to neglect no precaution.

noun

1. an act or instance of neglecting; disregard; negligence:

   The neglect of the property was shameful.

   Synonyms: heedlessness, inattention, default

   Antonyms: care, attention

2. the fact or state of being neglected:

   a beauty marred by neglect.

   Synonyms: heedlessness, inattention, default

neglect

/ nɪˈɡlɛkt /

verb

1. to fail to give due care, attention, or time to

   to neglect a child

2. to fail (to do something) through thoughtlessness or carelessness

   he neglected to tell her

3. to ignore or disregard

   she neglected his frantic signals

noun

1. lack of due care or attention; negligence

   the child starved through neglect

2. the act or an instance of neglecting or the state of being neglected

Derived Forms

• neˈglecter, noun

Other Words From

• ne·glected·ly adverb
• ne·glected·ness noun
• ne·glecter ne·glector noun
• over·ne·glect verb (used with object)
• prene·glect verb (used with object)
• quasi-ne·glected adjective
• self-ne·glect adjective
• self-ne·glecting adjective
• unne·glected adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of neglect¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of neglect¹

C16: from Latin neglegere to neglect, from nec not + legere to select

Synonym Study

See slight. 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.

Example Sentences

Mr Lumley said there were "too many incidents of bruising for it not to have been the result of neglect", adding anyone living with Charlie bore "criminal responsibility" for what happened to him.

From BBC

Christopher Stockton, 38, denies murder and child abuse, while Charlie's mother Paula Roberts, 41, denies child neglect.

From BBC

It means there are now 599 sites across the capital deemed at risk of neglect, decay or inappropriate development by the heritage group.

From BBC

Violence against women has also been criticized as an area of long neglect.

From Los Angeles Times

Susan Pollitt's inquest concluded her death at Royal Oldham Hospital in July 2023 had been caused by an "unnecessary medical procedure contributed to by neglect".

From BBC

Related Words

• discount
• disregard
• ignore
• overlook
• reject
• spurn
• underestimate