negligent

N1E1G2L1I1G2E1N1T1
/ˈnɛɡ.lɪ.d͡ʒənt/

adjective

Careless or inattentive.

“grossly negligent”

Similar
derelictdelinquentneglectfullaxslackhit-and-runinattentive
Opposite
diligent
OriginMiddle English necligent ← Old French negligent ← Latin negligēns →
Less commonScrabble 11
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Meanings

adjectivenegligent (comparative more negligent, superlative most negligent)

comparative more negligent · superlative most negligent

  1. Careless or inattentive.

    grossly negligent

    3 more examples

    negligent behavior

    act in a negligent manner towards his pupils

    The driver was found negligent in causing the accident.

  2. lawCulpable due to negligence.

    prove someone negligent

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivecharacterized by neglect and undue lack of concern

Similar
derelictdelinquentneglectfullaxslackhit-and-runinattentive
Opposite
diligent
Also see
carelesscursorydelinquentderelicthit-and-runimprudentinattentivelashlaxneglectfulotioseregardlessremissroughslacksloppy

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinnegligēns
  2. Old Frenchnegligent
  3. Middle Englishnecligent
  4. Englishnegligent

From Middle English necligent, negligent, from Old French negligent, from Latin negligēns.

More words from Middle English, Old French, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan negligent
  • negligentculpable due to negligence
Czech nedbalý
  • nedbalýculpable due to negligence
Dutch nalatig
  • nalatigculpable due to negligence
Finnish piittaamaton
  • piittaamatonculpable due to negligence
French négligent
  • négligentculpable due to negligence
German fahrlässig
  • fahrlässigculpable due to negligence
Greek αμελής
  • αμελής (amelís)culpable due to negligence
Hungarian gondatlan
  • gondatlanculpable due to negligence
Italian negligente
  • negligenteculpable due to negligence
Latin neglegens
  • neglegensculpable due to negligence
Portuguese negligente
  • negligenteculpable due to negligence
Romanian neglijent
  • neglijentculpable due to negligence
Russian хала́тный
  • хала́тный (xalátnyj)culpable due to negligence
Spanish negligente, pigre
  • negligentecareless
  • pigrecareless
  • negligenteculpable due to negligence
  • omisoculpable due to negligence
Swedish försumlig
  • försumligculpable due to negligence
Tagalog pabaya
  • pabayaculpable due to negligence
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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