negligent - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

neg·li·gent

Audio Help [neg-li-juh

nt] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	guilty of or characterized by neglect, as of duty: negligent officials.

2.	lazily careless; offhand: a negligent wave of his manicured hand.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME, var. of necligent < L negligent-, necligent-, s. of negligéns, prp. of negligere, var. of neglegere to neglect; see -ent

]

—Related forms

neg·li·gent·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 1. neglectful.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
negligent

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

neg·li·gent Audio Help (něg'lĭ-jənt) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Characterized by or inclined to neglect, especially habitually.
Characterized by careless ease or informality; casual.
Law Guilty of negligence.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin neglegēns, neglegent-, present participle of neglegere, to neglect; see neglect.]

neg'li·gent·ly adv.

Synonyms: These adjectives mean guilty of a lack of due care or concern: an accident caused by a negligent driver; was derelict in his civic responsibilities; lax in attending classes; neglectful of her own financial security; remiss of you not to pay your bill; slack in maintaining discipline.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

negligent
adjective
characterized by neglect and undue lack of concern; "negligent parents"; "negligent of detail"; "negligent in his correspondence" [ant: diligent]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Negligent

Neg"li*gent\, a. [F. n['e]gligent, L. negligens,p. pr. of negligere. See Neglect.] Apt to neglect; customarily neglectful; characterized by negligence; careless; heedless; culpably careless; showing lack of attention; as, disposed in negligent order. "Be thou negligent of fame." --Swift.

He that thinks he can afford to be negligent is not far from being poor. --Rambler.

Syn: Careles; heedless; neglectful; regardless; thoughtless; indifferent; inattentive; remiss.

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