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negligence

negligence

80 6.5
Failure to take proper care that causes harm or loss
  • noun
  • /ˈnɛɡlɪdʒəns/
  • Specialized
translation icon : negligencia
  • The Cooperative maintained that it was immune from suits for negligence and damages under state statute.
  • contributory negligence
  • gross negligence
  • prove negligence

Now, is there some negligence claim to be had here?

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Examples

  • They might have enough to charge him with criminal negligence.

  • Negligence is a gray area of the law, Yves.

  • Now, is there some negligence claim to be had here?

  • But let me tell you, Dad, this was not negligence on your part.

  • Do you know your negligence is directly responsible for my friend's death?

  • The evidence will prove that there was negligence.

  • Now you want to sue the city for negligence, right?

  • We are talking about culpable criminal negligence, professionals who are not providing the professional services promised.

    Academic text (1990)
  • He'll be lucky if he doesn't get sued for negligence.

  • The lawyer explained that negligence occurred when the caregiver failed to provide enough attention to the patient.

Synonyms

fault
vsnegligence
1.8

A mistake or personal weakness that causes people to blame someone

is the specific failure to take proper care that can cause harm
neglect
vsnegligence
100 3.5

Not caring for someone or something that needs care

is the failure to take proper care that can have legal results
irresponsibility
vsnegligence
17 4.8

Failing to do required duties and causing problems for others

focuses specifically on failing to take proper care or meet duties
dereliction
vsnegligence
  • Formal
16 8.4

Not doing a duty you must do

is the general lack of proper care that may lead to harm
carelessness
vsnegligence
16 2.8

Lack of attention that causes mistakes or accidents

is more about failing responsibilities and possible legal outcomes
neglect of duty
vsnegligence
  • Formal
1 5.1

Not doing important tasks you must do at work

is the broader failure to take proper care, not only in jobs
breach of duty
vsnegligence
  • Formal
1 6.5

Not doing what you must by law or by what is right to keep others safe

is a general failure to take proper care that can cause harm
inadvertence
vsnegligence
1 9.3

Not paying attention causes mistakes

covers both accidental slips and more blameworthy care failures
neglectfulness
vsnegligence
6.3

Not giving needed care and attention to responsibilities or people

refers to the same failure but can be a single act too
remissness
vsnegligence
  • Formal
8.6

A lack of care when doing important work that causes problems

is broader, covering failures to take care in many contexts
inadvertency
vsnegligence
9.9

Not paying attention and being careless about work

is similar but includes deliberate or culpable failures as well

Antonyms

2.7

A duty to do something and answer for what you do

555 1.0

Attention to avoid harm or mistakes

Compounds

4 7.5

Serious carelessness that puts other people at risk of harm or death

A person's lack of care that reduces or stops money they can get from the person who caused the injury

1 8.2

A rule that divides blame and reduces the money a person can get by their share of fault

1 8.8

A careless failure to take normal care that causes or could cause harm

Two or more people each cause the same harm by carelessness, allowing the injured person to sue any of them

How Negligent

negligence
  • Specialized
80 6.5
carelessness
16 2.8
lapse
81 4.9
oversight
30 4.7

Surface Forms

negligence singular
negligences plural

Morphology

negligence = negligent (transparent) = neglig + ence

The noun is a regular abstract formation from 'negligent', meaning the state or quality of being negligent.

Etymology

Negligence comes from Latin parts ne- 'not' and legere 'to pick or gather', so it once meant 'not picking up' or letting something be left. That's why negligence today means failing to take care or do what you should.