Neglect Means Not Picking Something Up
To neglect is to fail to care for something. The Latin is literally to not gather, from the same verb behind collect and lecture.
To neglect is to fail to give something the care it needs. The Latin is precise: *nec*, not, and *legere*, to pick up or gather. Neglect is leaving something where it lies — the same *legere* gives us *collect*, *select* and *lecture*. In law, neglect of a dependent person is an offence in its own right.
- To fail to care for. *The garden was neglected.*
- To fail to do something. *He neglected to mention it.*
- Lack of care. *Years of neglect.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | neglect | Do not neglect it. |
| Past | neglected | A neglected building. |
| Noun | neglect | Wilful neglect. |
| Adjective | negligent | Negligent driving. |
| Noun | negligence | Proven negligence. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The house fell into neglect.Uncountable.
- She neglected to sign the form.Neglect to means fail to.
- The claim alleges clinical negligence.A legal term with a specific test.
Neglect and negligence
- Neglect — failing to care for someone or something
- Negligence — failing to take reasonable care, a legal standard
- Omission — leaving something out or undone
- Dereliction — serious failure in a duty
- Oversight — an accidental failure to notice
From Latin *neglegere*, to disregard, from *nec*, not, and *legere*, to pick up or read. The same verb sits inside *elect*, *intelligent* and *legible*.
Neglect or negligence?
Neglect is the everyday failure to care. Negligence is the legal concept: failing the standard of care a reasonable person would meet.
Neglect to or neglect doing?
Neglect to plus a verb is standard: neglected to reply. Neglect plus -ing means failing to do something habitually.