negligent
- 01 C1 Advanced
failing to take proper care in doing something.
failing to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in like circumstances.
Simple“The council was negligent in maintaining the safety of the local playground.”
In context“The report concluded that the company had been negligent in its safety procedures, leading directly to the avoidable accident at the plant.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
responsible for a mistake or accident because you did not do your job carefully enough.
culpable due to a breach of a duty of care; used to establish liability in civil law.
Simple“The court found the driver negligent and ordered him to pay for the damages.”
In context“To succeed in a claim for damages, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant's conduct was negligent and caused the resulting injury.”
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'in' plus a gerund, or used as a predicative adjective after 'find' in legal contexts.
“The officials argued that the facility was negligent in caring for the animals and that the crocodiles therefore posed a public safety risk that justified the violent measures.”
From Middle English necligent, negligent, from Old French negligent, from Latin negligēns.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.