English Explanatory Dictionary

neglect

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To fail to care for or attend to something.
  2. To omit to notice; to forbear to treat with attention or respect; to slight.
  3. To fail to do or carry out something due to oversight or carelessness.
  4. To ignore for the sake of simplifying calculations without significantly affecting accuracy.
noun
  1. The act of neglecting.
  2. The state of being neglected.
  3. Habitual lack of care.

Pronunciation

/nɪˈɡlɛkt/ en-us-neglect.ogg

Word forms

neglect neglects neglecting neglected

Etymology

The verb is inherited from Middle English neglect, neclect, derived from Latin neglēctus, perfect passive participle of neglegō (“to make light of, disregard, not to pick up”), itself from nec (“not”) + legō (“to pick up, select”). The noun is from neglēctus (“neglect”). First attested in 1460, the noun in 1588.

Synonyms

take no notice of let slide disregard fail forget carelessness negligence

Antonyms

care mind reck consider notice regard consideration

Related words

negligee negligent negligence

Derived words

benign neglect neglectability neglectable neglectably neglectee neglecter neglectful neglectfully neglectfulness neglection neglective overneglect pseudoneglect reneglect child neglect hemineglect hemispatial neglect neglectproof
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