negligence

noun

ˈne-gli-jən(t)s How to pronounce negligence (audio)
Definition of negligencenext
1
as in neglectfulness
failure to take the care that a cautious person usually takes exhibiting his usual negligence, he failed to set the emergency brake, and the car rolled down the steep hill and crashed into the telephone pole

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2
as in neglect
the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action the factory's owners are being charged with criminal negligence for the fire that killed a dozen workers

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of negligence The culture and system of DOC has solidified into this morass of unaccountability and negligence that can probably only be excised from without, by an official not tethered to it or the city’s broader political strictures. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2025 Cade Kaminski was arrested Sunday on suspicion of vehicular homicide, animal cruelty, criminal negligence, reckless driving and weaving, according to a news release from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. — Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 17 Mar. 2025 Hawley’s parents Anne and William are suing, alleging wrongful death, negligence, a design defect in the coaster and failure to warn riders of potential injury. — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025 The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleges negligence, design defects and a failure to warn riders about the potential danger of the wing coaster at the Valencia amusement park. — Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for negligence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for negligence
  1. neglect
  2. failure
  3. oversight
  4. default
Noun
  • But ensuring they will be cared for properly can be difficult — especially if operators and providers accused of neglect and abuse are able to fly under the radar.
    — Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Both were charged in 2019 with neglect of a dependent.
    — Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of neglect
Noun
  • Related article Research team reports longest successful transplant of a pig kidney into a human A successful pig liver transplant would be a major advance for people with acute liver failure, even as a temporary bridge while awaiting a human donor organ.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Parading out amendments destined for failure is not leadership.
    — Christopher Eric Bouchat, Baltimore Sun, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of failure
Noun
  • Reducing the department's workforce may hinder the oversight and implementation of federal educational programs, potentially disrupting services that support schools, educators, and students nationwide.
    — Solange Charas, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Carla Peterman, a PG&E corporate affairs officer, told lawmakers at an oversight hearing last month that $86 million of its 2024 profit went back to investors.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of oversight
Noun
  • The pattern of being competitive had been indubitably laid into the foundations of each AGI, either by default or by purposeful intent.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Thompson also worries that a sudden vacuum in such information could lead to a spike in loan defaults.
    — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of default

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Cite this Entry

“Negligence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/negligence. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on negligence

Nglish: Translation of negligence for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about negligence

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