neglect Meaning & Definition
What Does Neglect Mean?
As a verb, neglect means To fail to care for or attend to something. It can also mean To omit to notice; to forbear to treat with attention or respect; to slight. As a noun, it means The act of neglecting.
Word Facts for Neglect
| Part of speech | verb, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /nɪˈɡlɛkt/ |
| Synonyms | disregard, overlook and miss |
| Antonyms | attend to, take to heart and care |
| Plural | neglects |
| Verb forms | neglects, neglecting, neglected |
Neglect Definition (Verb)
- To fail to care for or attend to something.
to neglect duty or business; to neglect to pay debts
- To omit to notice; to forbear to treat with attention or respect; to slight.
to neglect strangers
- To fail to do or carry out something due to oversight or carelessness.
- To ignore for the sake of simplifying calculations without significantly affecting accuracy.
We can neglect this term, as it approaches zero in the limit anyway.
Neglect as a Noun
- The act of neglecting.
- The state of being neglected.
- Habitual lack of care.
Synonyms of Neglect
Antonyms of Neglect
Neglect in a Sentence
to neglect duty or business; to neglect to pay debts
to neglect strangers
We can neglect this term, as it approaches zero in the limit anyway.
This problem says to neglect air resistance.
Word Forms & Grammar
neglect (third-person singular simple present neglects, present participle neglecting, simple past and past participle neglected)
neglect (countable and uncountable, plural neglects)
Words That Rhyme With Neglect
Origin of Neglect
The verb is inherited from Middle English neglect, neclect, derived from Latin neglēctus, perfect passive participle of neglegō (“to make light of, disregard, not to pick up”), itself from nec (“not”) + legō (“to pick up, select”). The noun is from neglēctus (“neglect”). First attested in 1460, the noun in 1588.
Frequently Asked Questions About Neglect
Is neglect a verb or a noun?
Neglect is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for neglect?
You can replace neglect with words such as disregard, overlook and miss. See the full list of neglect synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of neglect?
Antonyms of neglect include attend to, take to heart, care and mind.
What is the plural of neglect?
The plural of neglect is neglects.
What is the past tense of neglect?
The past tense of neglect is neglected. The present participle is neglecting.