inattentive

I1N1A1T1T1E1N1T1I1V4E1
/ˌɪn.əˈtɛn.tɪv/

adjective

Of or pertaining to a lack of attention; not paying attention; careless.

“He was inattentive in class and did not do well in his exams.”

Similar
absent-mindeddistracteddistraitunconcentratedabsentabsentmindedabstracteddreamy
Opposite
attentivevigilant
OriginEnglish attentive ← Middle English in- ← Latin in- →
UncommonScrabble 14
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Meanings

adjectiveinattentive (comparative more inattentive, superlative most inattentive)

comparative more inattentive · superlative most inattentive

  1. Of or pertaining to a lack of attention; not paying attention; careless.

    He was inattentive in class and did not do well in his exams.

    Synonyms: absent-minded, distracted, distrait, unconcentrated

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveOf or pertaining to a lack of attention; not paying attention; careless.

Similar
absent-mindeddistracteddistraitunconcentrated
Opposite
attentivevigilant

More synonyms by meaning

adjectiveshowing a lack of attention or care

Similar
absentabsentmindedabstracteddistracteddistraitdreamymoonywoolgatheringdrowsyoscitantyawning
Opposite
attentive

adjectivenot showing due care or attention

Similar
neglectfulnegligent
Also see
absentabstractedcloth-eareddistracteddistraitdreamydrowsyforgetfulinconsideratelight-headedmoonyneglectfulnegligentobliviousoscitantscattyunawarewoolgatheringyawning

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*né
  2. Proto-Indo-European*n̥-
  3. Proto-Italic*n̥-
  4. Latinin-
  5. Middle Englishin-
  6. Englishin-
  7. Englishattentive
  8. Englishinattentive

From in- + attentive.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic سَاهٍ
  • سَاهٍ (sāhin)not paying attention
Bulgarian невнима́телен
  • невнима́телен (nevnimátelen)not paying attention
Chinese Mandarin 分心, 心不在焉
  • 分心 (fēnxīn)not paying attention
  • 心不在焉 (xīnbùzàiyān)not paying attention
  • 心神恍惚 (xīnshénhuǎnghū)not paying attention
  • 失神 (shīshén)not paying attention
Czech nepozorný
  • nepozornýnot paying attention
Esperanto malatenta, senatenta
  • malatentanot paying attention
  • senatentanot paying attention
Finnish tarkkaamaton
  • tarkkaamatonnot paying attention
French inattentif
  • inattentifnot paying attention
German unaufmerksam
  • unaufmerksamnot paying attention
Irish anaireach
  • anaireachnot paying attention
Italian inattento
  • inattentonot paying attention
Māori pihoi, taringa morimori
  • pihoinot paying attention
  • taringa morimorinot paying attention
  • taringa whitiruanot paying attention
  • taringa kōroiroinot paying attention
  • muhukainot paying attention
Polish nieuważny
  • nieuważnynot paying attention
Romanian neatent
  • neatentnot paying attention
Russian невнима́тельный
  • невнима́тельный (nevnimátelʹnyj)not paying attention
Slovak nepozorný
  • nepozornýnot paying attention
Spanish desatento
  • desatentonot paying attention
Ukrainian неува́жний, неува́жливий
  • неува́жний (neuvážnyj)not paying attention
  • неува́жливий (neuvážlyvyj)not paying attention
Vietnamese lơ đãng
  • lơ đãngnot paying attention
Cite this entry
APA

inattentive. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inattentive

MLA

“inattentive.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inattentive. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “inattentive,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inattentive.

Source: inattentive on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.