Word Noun
carelessness
n.
B1 Intermediate US /ˈkɛɹɫəsnəs/ UK /kˈeələsnəs/ care·less·ness UK spelling carelessnesses
Definition
n.the quality of not being careful. It describes a lack of attention to detail or a failure to follow rules.
n.the quality of being unskilled or inattentive; a lack of caution or precision.
Examples
“His carelessness caused the accident.”
“The manager warned the team that their carelessness with the equipment could lead to expensive repairs.”
“While the artist's technical skill was undeniable, the carelessness in the final brushstrokes suggested a lack of focus during the painting's completion.”
Etymology
From Middle English carelesnes, carlesnesse, from Old English carlēasnes (“freedom from care, security, carelessness”), equivalent to careless + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Origin Old English carlēasnes
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated