2026

Neglect

//nɪˈɡlɛkt//

Definitions

verbneglects · neglecting · neglected

1
To fail to care for or attend to something.
to neglect duty or business; to neglect to pay debts
Similar
let slide
2
To omit to notice; to forbear to treat with attention or respect; to slight.
to neglect strangers
Similar
disregard
3
To fail to do or carry out something due to oversight or carelessness.
A friend of mine who runs an intellectual magazine was grousing about his movie critic, complaining that though the fellow had liked The Godfather (page 58), he had neglected to label it clearly as a masterpiece.
Similar
fail forget

nounneglects

1
The act of neglecting.
2
The state of being neglected.
3
Habitual lack of care.
Fifteen participants argued that the neglect of discourse on relationships had major implications for the ability of adolescents to acquire courtship skills and maintain relationships. This neglect means that the students acquire knowledge and skills through the media and by observing and imitating others in their immediate environment.

Word Origin

From Middle English neclect, from Latin neglēctus, perfect passive participle of neglegō (“make light of, disregard, not to pick up”), a variant of neclegō, itself from nec (“not”) + legō (“pick up, s...

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