Standard Lemma guide

inattentive

adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˌɪn.əˈtɛn.tɪv/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 N AH0 T EH1 N T IH0 V Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Of or pertaining to a lack of attention; not paying attention; careless.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • He was inattentive in class and did not do well in his exams.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective

Meaning 2

showing a lack of attention or care

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • inattentive students
  • an inattentive babysitter

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: attentive

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

not showing due care or attention

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • inattentive students
  • an inattentive babysitter
  • neglectful parents

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: neglectful

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English in- English attentive English inattentive From in- + attentive.

Across languages

Translations

33 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: سَاهٍ (sāhin) — not paying attention
  • Armenian: ցրված (cʻrvac) — not paying attention
  • Belarusian: няўва́жлівы (njawvážlivy) — not paying attention
  • Belarusian: няўва́жны (njawvážny) — not paying attention
  • Bulgarian: невнима́телен (nevnimátelen) — not paying attention
  • Chinese Mandarin: 分心 (fēnxīn) — not paying attention
  • Chinese Mandarin: 心不在焉 (xīnbùzàiyān) — not paying attention
  • Chinese Mandarin: 心神恍惚 (xīnshénhuǎnghū) — not paying attention
  • Chinese Mandarin: 失神 (shīshén) — not paying attention
  • Czech: nepozorný — not paying attention
  • Esperanto: senatenta — not paying attention
  • Finnish: tarkkaamaton — not paying attention
  • French: inattentif — not paying attention
  • German: unaufmerksam — not paying attention
  • Ido: neatencoza — not paying attention
  • Irish: anaireach — not paying attention
  • Italian: inattento — not paying attention
  • Kazakh: алаңғасар (alañğasar) — not paying attention
  • Manx: neuarreydagh — not paying attention
  • Manx: antortagh — not paying attention
  • Māori: pihoi — not paying attention
  • Māori: taringa morimori — not paying attention
  • Māori: taringa whitirua — not paying attention
  • Māori: taringa kōroiroi — not paying attention
  • Māori: muhukai — not paying attention
  • Polish: nieuważny — not paying attention
  • Romanian: neatent — not paying attention
  • Russian: невнима́тельный (nevnimátelʹnyj) — not paying attention
  • Slovak: nepozorný — not paying attention
  • Spanish: desatento — not paying attention
  • Ukrainian: неува́жний (neuvážnyj) — not paying attention
  • Ukrainian: неува́жливий (neuvážlyvyj) — not paying attention
  • Vietnamese: lơ đãng — not paying attention