remiss

[ ri-mis ]

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

remiss

/ rɪˈmɪs /

adjective

1. lacking in care or attention to duty; negligent
2. lacking in energy; dilatory

Derived Forms

• reˈmissness, noun
• reˈmissly, adverb

Other Words From

• re·missly adverb
• re·missness noun
• over·re·miss adjective
• over·re·missly adverb
• over·re·missness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of remiss¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin remissus, past participle of remittere “to send back, slacken, relax”; remit

Word History and Origins

Origin of remiss¹

C15: from Latin remissus from remittere to release, from re- + mittere to send

Synonym Study

See neglect.

Example Sentences

It would be remiss to not start with the positive.

From BBC

This is such bald-faced lie that I would be remiss if I did not fact-check Murray myself.

From Los Angeles Times

Still, though, It would be remiss to neglect to acknowledge that one of the film’s leads, Ortega, is a Hispanic actor, hailing from Mexican and Puerto Rican parentage.

From Salon

Physicians are generally remiss to part with the ways passed down to them.

From Salon

We would be remiss not to mention emotion-monitoring systems, intended to capture animals' affective states and enable adjustments to improve welfare conditions.

From Salon