carelessness

[ kair-lis-nis ]

noun

1. failure to pay enough attention to what one is doing; sloppiness:

   Unlike unavoidable error, a “mistake” in an experiment is something known to be incorrect due to accident, carelessness, or ineptitude.

2. lack of accuracy or thoroughness:

   The many instances of carelessness in the book (with references, dates, etc.) detract from its value.

3. the fact or quality of being said or done thoughtlessly or negligently:

   You were too quick to make promises you can’t possibly fulfill—which only shows the carelessness of your remarks.

4. lack of regard or concern for something (usually followed by of, about, for, or toward ):

   He was repulsed by their carelessness and cruelty toward those less fortunate.

   Her rudeness and arrogance betray her carelessness for other people's feelings.

5. effortless or artless quality:

   She is a highly intelligent academic who nevertheless speaks with the simplicity and carelessness of a child.

Other Words From

• o·ver·care·less·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of carelessness¹

First recorded before 1000; careless ( def ) + -ness ( def )

Example Sentences

Forwards make careless passes, and defensemen make mistakes that put their goalie in a tough spot.

From Washington Post

Stop careless habits, such as leaving the dishwasher door open.

From Washington Post

On the other end of the floor, Virginia was uncharacteristically careless as it committed 10 turnovers, including on each of its first three possessions.

From Washington Post

I’m grateful that I was able to shed even a little bit of light on how careless authorities were with the lives of people in their custody.

From Voice of San Diego

One must not take the fact that there is a vaccine a few months away as an indication to be careless with measures.

From Fortune

“The most frustrating part of this crematorium here is the carelessness of the Ebola team,” says Reeves.

From The Daily Beast

Her jauntiness and carefree attitude appeals to him; the negative side is her carelessness.

From The Daily Beast

There is no excuse for my carelessness in handling this situation, nor my stubbornness in delaying acknowledgment of my errors.

From The Daily Beast

On the one hand, he was furious at the carelessness of it all; on the other, he felt sorry for the man.

From The Daily Beast

And many of them can be attributed to a certain nonchalance or carelessness.

From The Daily Beast

But they have not the invincible carelessness or temperamental springiness of the old lot—and how should they?

From Project Gutenberg

Certainly he had chosen a singular hiding-place, and never did man treat such a treasure with such apparent carelessness.

From Project Gutenberg

Carelessness in worming was an unpardonable offence in the days of slavery, and was frequently punished with great severity.

From Project Gutenberg

And at the gate he parted from the lady whose carelessness had made all the trouble.

From Project Gutenberg

Weston was a little leaner, and his face was grimmer than it had been, for the whimsical carelessness had faded out of it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• inattention
• neglect
• negligence
• nonchalance
• sloppiness