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

“I would also be remiss not to mention that I am humbled to be in such excellent company, filmmakers I genuinely admire,” Corbet said on stage.

From Salon • Jan. 6, 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

It would be remiss to not start with the positive.

From BBC • Nov. 16, 2024

The chaplain shook his head, feeling despicably remiss because he did not know how to delegate responsibility and had no initiative, and because he really had been tempted to disagree with the colonel.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller