What does negligent mean?
Negligent describes someone who fails to provide the care, attention, or caution that a situation reasonably requires. The word often describes a breach of duty: a negligent driver may fail to obey traffic rules, while a negligent employer may overlook a serious workplace hazard. It is stronger and more accusatory than simply describing an accidental mistake, because it implies that the person or organization should have known better and should have acted. In legal contexts, negligence can have specific technical meanings, including conduct that causes harm or fails to meet an expected standard of care. Outside law, negligent conduct is generally regarded as careless or irresponsible. The word is commonly used with conduct, behavior, handling, performance, and maintenance, and is frequently paired with expressions such as “gross negligence” and “criminal negligence.” Its Latin origin, from neglegere, literally meaning “to overlook,” reinforces the idea of failing to notice or attend to something important.
adjectiveFailing to take proper care or attention to a responsibility, duty, or person. Characterized by carelessness, inattention, or an unreasonable lack of caution.
- Failing to exercise the care, attention, or caution expected in a particular situation.
- Lacking proper attention to a duty, responsibility, or person.
"The company was found negligent for failing to inspect the equipment and prevent the accident."
"The tenant accused the landlord of negligent maintenance after the stairs became unsafe."
"His negligent handling of confidential information led to an internal review."
Negligent comes from the Latin verb neglegere, meaning “to overlook,” so the word originally suggested failure to notice what required attention.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does negligent come from?
Negligent derives from the Latin adjective negligentem, formed from neglegere, “to overlook” or “to disregard.” In English, the word developed from the notion of disregarding or overlooking a duty or obligation. Neglect and negligence are related forms from the same Latin source, and the word’s history reflects its longstanding association with inattention and failure of responsibility.
Related word forms
How negligent is actually used
The term is used in legal, professional, and formal contexts as well as ordinary speech. It normally implies a serious failure of care, although its severity can vary according to context.
Easily confused with negligent
Negligible means too small or unimportant to matter, whereas negligent describes a failure to exercise proper care.