careless

care·less

adjective

The definition of careless is not paying proper attention to detail or not taking care to do something well enough or correctly.

A mistake you make because you aren't really paying attention is an example of a careless mistake.

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"careless." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 24 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Careless>.

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careless. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Careless

careless

without worry; carefree; untroubled
not paying enough attention; not thinking before one acts or speaks; neglectful; heedless; inconsiderate
done or made without enough attention, precision, etc.; not painstaking or thorough
artless; unstudied: a careless grace

Origin of careless

Middle English careles from Old English carleas: see care and -less

careless Idioms

careless of

indifferent to; untroubled by

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MLA Style

"careless." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 24 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Careless>.

APA Style

careless. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Careless

careless

adjective

Taking insufficient care; negligent: a careless housekeeper; careless proofreading.
Marked by or resulting from lack of forethought or thoroughness: a careless mistake.
Showing a lack of consideration: a careless remark.
Unconcerned or indifferent; heedless: careless of the consequences.
Unstudied or effortless: danced with careless grace.
Exhibiting a disposition that is free from cares; cheerful: a careless grin; a careless wave of the hand.

Related Forms:

care′less·ly
adverb

care′less·ness
noun

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Link to this page

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MLA Style

"careless." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 24 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Careless>.

APA Style

careless. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Careless

careless

careless heedless thoughtless inadvertent

These adjectives apply to what is marked by insufficient care or attention. Careless often implies negligence: “It is natural for careless writers to run into faults they never think of” (George Berkeley). Heedless often suggests recklessness: “We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics” (Franklin D. Roosevelt). Thoughtless applies to actions taken without due consideration: “But thoughtless follies laid him low / And stain'd his name” (Robert Burns). Inadvertent implies unintentional lack of care: With an inadvertent gesture, she swept the vase off the table.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"careless." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 24 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Careless>.

APA Style

careless. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Careless

Adjective

(comparative more careless, superlative most careless)

(archaic) Free from care; unworried, without anxiety. [from 11th c.]
Not concerned or worried (about). [from 11th c.]
Not giving sufficient attention or thought, especially concerning the avoidance of harm or mistakes. [from 16th c.]
Jessica was so careless that she put her shorts on backwards.

Origin

From Middle English careles, from Old English carlēas (“careless, reckless, void of care, free from care, free”), equivalent to care +‎ -less.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.