# negligence

/ˈnɛɡɫədʒəns/ (US) · /nˈɛɡlɪdʒəns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/negligence
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. general lack of care

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the state of being careless or failing to give enough attention to something you are responsible for.

For teachers: the state or quality of being negligent; a general failure to exercise proper care or attention in one's duties or actions.

- The accident was caused by the driver's negligence in checking his mirrors.
- The report concluded that the disaster was the direct result of systemic negligence within the maintenance department over several years.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'in' or 'of'.

### 2. legal breach of duty

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

a legal situation where someone fails to act with the care required by law, causing harm to another person.

For teachers: a tort consisting of the breach of a duty of care owed to another, which causes injury or loss to that person.

- The company was sued for professional negligence after the building collapsed.
- To succeed in a claim for negligence, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant owed them a duty of care and that the breach caused actual damage.

Usage: Commonly appears in the phrases 'contributory negligence' or 'gross negligence'.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.