Negligible
/ˈneɡlɪdʒəbəl/
Definitions
So small or unimportant as to be not worth considering; insignificant.
/ˈneɡlɪdʒəbəl/
The risk of side effects was considered negligible.
💡 Simply: Imagine you drop a grain of salt - it’s so tiny you wouldn't even notice it. That's how small something has to be to be negligible. For example: 'The cost of the new app was negligible, almost free!'
👶 For kids: Something is negligible if it's so small you don't even need to care about it!
More Examples
The cost of the repairs was negligible compared to the overall value of the property.
Her contribution to the project was negligible, as she only attended one meeting.
The impact of the event on the global economy was negligible.
How It's Used
"The impact of the tax cut on the national debt was negligible."
"The difference in temperature was so small it was almost negligible."
From Latin *negligibilis* (meaning 'able to be neglected'), derived from *negligere* ('to neglect'), from *nec* ('not') + *legere* ('to pick up, choose, read').
The word's use in English dates back to the early 17th century, initially appearing in scientific and philosophical texts.
Memory tip
Think of a tiny, easily neglected object. If it can be ignored, it's negligible.