careless
- 01 B1 Intermediate
not giving enough attention or thought to what you are doing, which often causes mistakes.
failing to give sufficient attention or thought to avoiding harm or errors.
Simple“It was a careless mistake to leave the front door unlocked overnight.”
In context“The accountant's careless handling of the tax filings resulted in a significant fine for the small business.”
UsageOften followed by the prepositions 'with' or 'about'.
PitfallHe is careless for his health. He is careless with his health.Use 'with' when describing how someone treats a specific thing, or 'about' for general concerns.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
not worried or concerned about something, sometimes in a way that seems rude.
displaying a lack of concern or interest; nonchalant regarding the feelings of others or the outcome of a situation.
Simple“He gave a careless shrug when I asked him if he was coming to the party.”
In context“Her careless attitude toward the project's failure deeply frustrated the rest of the team who had worked overtime.”
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
having no worries or problems to think about.
characterised by a lack of anxiety or responsibility; free from the burdens of care.
Simple“They spent a careless afternoon wandering through the old forest.”
In context“In the poem, the author reflects on the careless days of his youth before the onset of war.”
Teacher's tipIn modern English, 'carefree' is almost always used for this positive meaning; 'careless' is now almost exclusively negative.
From Middle English careles, from Old English carlēas (“careless, reckless, void of care, free from care, free”), equivalent to care + -less. Cognate with Icelandic kærulaus (“careless, negligent”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.