Negligence
'neɡlɪdʒəns
Definitions
Failure to use reasonable care, resulting in damage or injury to another person.
'neɡlɪdʒəns
Failure to take proper care in doing something.
The driver's negligence resulted in a serious car accident.
💡 Simply: Imagine your neighbor forgot to close the gate to the pool, and a kid got in and drowned. Negligence means not being careful enough and causing harm to someone, like not taking reasonable care to keep others safe.
👶 For kids: Being careless and not taking good care of something or someone, which causes harm.
More Examples
The company was sued for negligence after failing to maintain its equipment.
The doctor was accused of medical negligence for not properly treating the patient.
How It's Used
"The company was found guilty of negligence in the accident."
"Medical negligence can lead to serious complications for patients."
Idioms & expressions
gross negligence
Carelessness that is so extreme that it shows a complete disregard for the safety of others.
"The judge ruled that the company's actions constituted gross negligence."
negligence per se
In law, this means an act is automatically considered negligent because it violates a law or regulation designed to protect the public.
"Failure to adhere to safety codes is often considered negligence per se."
From Middle French négligence, from Old French neglegence, from Latin negligentia (“carelessness”), from negligens (“not picking up, disregardful”), present participle of negligō (“to disregard”), from nec (“not”) + legō (“to pick up, gather, choose”).
The term 'negligence' has been used in legal contexts since the 16th century to describe failures in duty of care.
Memory tip
Imagine neglecting a baby; the baby gets hurt. Negligence is the legal equivalent.
Word Origin
"to disregard, not to heed"