negligence
n. uncountablen. the failure to take enough care when doing something. It usually describes a mistake that happens because someone was lazy or didn't follow the rules.
n. the failure to exercise the level of care that a reasonable person would observe under similar circumstances. Often used in legal contexts to describe a breach of duty that results in unintended harm or damage.
The accident happened because of the driver's negligence.
The hospital faced a lawsuit for medical negligence after a surgeon left a tool inside a patient.
The court ruled that the company's systemic negligence regarding safety protocols directly contributed to the environmental disaster at the refinery.
From Middle English necligence, negligence, from Old French negligence, from Latin neglegentia.
Uncountable in its general sense; occasionally used as a countable noun in specific legal contexts to refer to distinct acts of failure.