Word
negligible
Phoneticsneg·li·gi·ble, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈnɛɡɫədʒəbəɫ/
UK/nˈɛɡlɪdʒəbəl/
Definition
adj. so small or unimportant that you do not need to worry about it. It describes something that has almost no effect on a situation.
adj. so small or insignificant as to be not worth considering; barely perceptible. Often used in scientific or financial contexts to describe a quantity that can be ignored without affecting the outcome.
Examples
“The difference in price between the two shops is negligible.”
“Although the new engine is slightly louder, the increase in noise is negligible and won't bother the neighbors.”
“In the final calculation of the project's carbon footprint, the emissions from the office supplies were deemed negligible compared to the impact of international shipping.”
Examples
simple
“The difference in price between the two shops is negligible.”
contextual
“Although the new engine is slightly louder, the increase in noise is negligible and won't bother the neighbors.”
complex
“In the final calculation of the project's carbon footprint, the emissions from the office supplies were deemed negligible compared to the impact of international shipping.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “negligible” in context.
Adjective
01. negligible effect
“The new tax policy had a negligible effect on the overall economy, as most citizens were exempt.”
adj + noun
Usage
Typically used predicatively after a linking verb or attributively before a noun; often modified by 'virtually' or 'almost'.
Real-World Examples
“The difference is far from negligible: On average, left-handers are positioned about half a point further to the left on a 10-point political scale.” “The shortfall of 97.57% from India’s initial pledge in 2014 was stark enough to alarm the government’s own auditor, who described the progress as “negligible”.” “Less than 13% entered the gas phase, and the amount released directly into the atmosphere during the reaction was negligible.” Etymology
From negligence/negligent + -ible, as if from New Latin *negligibilis, from Latin neglegō (“I neglect”) + -ibilis (“-ible”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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