Neglect
/nɪˈɡlekt/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo fail to give proper attention or care to; to disregard.
/nɪˈɡlekt/
To fail to care for properly.
She neglected her studies and failed the exam.
💡 Simply: Imagine you have a pet or a plant. Neglect is when you don't feed it, water it, or give it attention. It's like forgetting to do something important that you should be doing.
👶 For kids: To not take care of someone or something.
More Examples
The company was accused of neglecting safety regulations.
He neglected his appearance and looked unkempt.
How It's Used
"The parents neglected their children's basic needs."
"He neglected his health by not exercising and eating poorly."
The state of being uncared for; the failure to care properly for something.
/ˈnɪɡlekt/
The state of being uncared for.
The house was in a state of neglect.
💡 Simply: Neglect as a noun is like when something doesn't get the attention it needs, like a house falling apart because no one fixes it. It's a situation where something's been left out or ignored.
👶 For kids: When you don't take care of something or someone.
More Examples
Child neglect is a serious social issue.
The garden's neglect was evident in the overgrown weeds.
How It's Used
"The city showed a long history of neglect towards its older neighborhoods."
"Her childhood was marked by emotional neglect."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
to neglect one's duties
To fail to perform the tasks or responsibilities expected of you.
"The employee was fired for neglecting his duties."
a neglected child
A child who is not receiving adequate care.
"The foster system took in the neglected child."
From Latin *neglectus*, past participle of *neglegere* 'to disregard, neglect', from *nec* 'not' + *legere* 'to pick up, gather, choose'.
The word has been used since the late 14th century, evolving from its Latin roots to describe a failure to care for or attend to something.
Memory tip
Think of a garden: if you neglect it, it will quickly become overgrown.
Word Origin
"to disregard, neglect"