neglect

Listen See in ThesaurusSee in a sentence

Neglect is defined as to ignore or fail to care for someone or something or fail to do something.

(verb)

  1. An example of neglect is someone not stopping at a red light.
  2. An example of neglect is someone leaving their baby at home alone.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See neglect in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

  1. to ignore or disregard: to neglect the advice of others
  2. to fail to care for or attend to sufficiently or properly; slight: to neglect one's family
  3. to fail to carry out (an expected or required action) through carelessness or by intention; leave undone

Origin: < L neglectus, pp. of negligere, neglegere, not to heed, be regardless of < neg- (see negation) + legere, to gather (see logic)

noun

  1. the action of neglecting
  2. lack of sufficient or proper care; negligence; disregard
  3. the state of being neglected

Related Forms:

See neglect in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb ne·glect·ed, ne·glect·ing, ne·glects
  1. To pay little or no attention to; fail to heed; disregard: neglected their warnings.
  2. To fail to care for or attend to properly: neglects her appearance.
  3. To fail to do or carry out, as through carelessness or oversight: neglected to return the call.
noun
  1. The act or an instance of neglecting something.
  2. The state of being neglected.
  3. Habitual lack of care.

Origin:

Origin: Latin neglegere, neglēct-

Origin: : neg-, not; see ne in Indo-European roots

Origin: + legere, to choose, pick up; see leg- in Indo-European roots

.

Related Forms:

  • ne·glectˈer noun

Learn more about neglect

neglect synonyms

neglect legal definition

neglect in a sentence

neglect quotes

Related Articles

Examples of Negligence

link/cite print suggestion box

More from YD

Also Mentioned In

abuse

child neglect

culpable

decade

disrepair

excusable neglect

forget

grass

hesitate

omit

» more results...

Browse entries near neglect

negative

negativism

negatron

Negev

neglectful

negligee

negligence

negligent

negligible

negotiable

About YourDictionary Advertisers Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Bookmark Site Help Suggestion Box Tools
© 1996-2013 LoveToKnow, Corp. All Rights Reserved. Audio pronunciation provided by LoveToKnow, Corp.
About YourDictionary Advertisers Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Help
© 1996-2013 LoveToKnow, Corp. All Rights Reserved. Audio pronunciation provided by LoveToKnow, Corp.