Neglect

/nɪˈɡlɛkt/

Meaning & Definition

noun
the act of ignoring or failing to care for someone or something.
The dog's neglect left it in poor health.
a state of being disregarded or ignored.
The neglect of urban infrastructure led to numerous problems.
verb
to fail to care for or attend to someone or something properly.
The parents were accused of neglecting their child's education.
to give little or no attention to something.
She neglected her health by not eating properly.
to fail to do something that one should do.
He neglected to mention the important details during the meeting.

Etymology

From Latin 'neglegere', meaning 'to disregard or make light of'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

neglect of duty:
Failure to fulfill one's responsibilities.
child neglect:
Failure to meet a child's basic needs.
neglect someone's feelings:
To not consider or care about someone's emotions.

Related Words

Slang Meanings

Ghosting
He ghosted her, completely neglecting their previous relationship.
Zone out
I totally zoned out during the meeting, neglecting what was being said.