# negligent

/ˈnɛɡɫədʒənt/ (US) · /nˈɛɡlɪdʒənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/negligent
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. careless or inattentive

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

failing to take proper care in doing something.

For teachers: failing to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in like circumstances.

- The council was negligent in maintaining the safety of the local playground.
- The report concluded that the company had been negligent in its safety procedures, leading directly to the avoidable accident at the plant.

### 2. legally responsible for damage

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

responsible for a mistake or accident because you did not do your job carefully enough.

For teachers: culpable due to a breach of a duty of care; used to establish liability in civil law.

- The court found the driver negligent and ordered him to pay for the damages.
- To succeed in a claim for damages, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant's conduct was negligent and caused the resulting injury.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'in' plus a gerund, or used as a predicative adjective after 'find' in legal contexts.

## Examples

- The driver was negligent for not stopping at the red light.
- The court found the company negligent after they failed to maintain the safety equipment properly.
- Legal experts argued that the hospital had been negligent in its hiring practices, leading to a series of avoidable errors in the emergency department.

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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.