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.
/ˈnɛɡ.lɪ.d͡ʒənt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:N EH1 G L AH0 JH AH0 N T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:N EH1 G L IH0 JH AH0 N T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Careless or inattentive.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
grossly negligent
negligent behavior
act in a negligent manner towards his pupils
The driver was found negligent in causing the accident.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Culpable due to negligence.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: law
Examples
prove someone negligent
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adjective
Meaning 3
characterized by neglect and undue lack of concern
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
negligent parents
negligent of detail
negligent in his correspondence
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: diligent
History
Etymology
From Middle English necligent, negligent, from Old French negligent, from Latin negligēns.
Across languages
Translations
22 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Spanish:
negligente
— careless
Spanish:
pigre
— careless
Azerbaijani:
səhlənkar
— culpable due to negligence
Catalan:
negligent
— culpable due to negligence
Czech:
nedbalý
— culpable due to negligence
Dutch:
nalatig
— culpable due to negligence
Finnish:
piittaamaton
— culpable due to negligence
French:
négligent
— culpable due to negligence
Galician:
neglixente
— culpable due to negligence
German:
fahrlässig
— culpable due to negligence
Greek:
αμελής
(amelís)
— culpable due to negligence
Hungarian:
gondatlan
— culpable due to negligence
Italian:
negligente
— culpable due to negligence
Kazakh:
немқұрайлы
(nemqūraily)
— culpable due to negligence
Latin:
neglegens
— culpable due to negligence
Portuguese:
negligente
— culpable due to negligence
Romanian:
neglijent
— culpable due to negligence
Russian:
хала́тный
(xalátnyj)
— culpable due to negligence
