negligent

USAGE SUMMARY

'negligent' is a correct word in written English.
It is an adjective used to describe someone who is careless or thoughtless in the performance of their duties. Example Sentence: The negligent driver failed to stop for the red light, causing an accident.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A British judge will rule on whether BP breached agreements with the farmers and was negligent in causing environmental damage when building the pipeline.

The Guardian

"Not to act on what we now know would be negligent.

The Guardian

To be fair to Richards, he was on more solid ground when he admitted his defence had been "grossly negligent" in the first half when his side conceded three tries and that the Falcons had butchered opportunities to turn the game after the break.

The Guardian - Sport

According to the typescript, finished in 1947, he was cruel, negligent, greedy, self-centred and wasteful.

The Guardian - Books

The hearing, in the UK's technology and construction court, comes a month after a US judge ruled that BP was "grossly negligent" in the runup to the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster, in which millions of gallons of crude were spilled into the sea.

The Guardian

The defendants deny all the allegations and also plead immunity from being sued by a suspect over an alleged negligent investigation.

The Guardian

"A new icebreaker is long overdue and the previous government had been negligent in failing to put aside the required funding," Hunt said.

The Guardian

The farmers say the British company Equion Energia, formerly BP Exploration (Colombia) Ltd or BPXC, was negligent in the construction of the Ocensa oil pipeline in the mid-1990s.

The Guardian

In February, Liang was charged with second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, among other charges.

The Guardian

Reggie Bush, the Detroit Lions running back, called in to a radio station in defence of Adrian Peterson, indicted by a grand jury on charges of "reckless or negligent injury to a child".

The Guardian - Sport

"A leader from yesterday whose tenure as secretary of state was ineffective at best, and dangerously negligent at worst".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing professional misconduct or legal breaches, use "negligent" to precisely convey a failure to exercise reasonable care, differentiating it from intentional wrongdoing.

Common error

Avoid using "negligent" loosely; ensure there's a clear duty of care that was breached. For less formal scenarios of simple carelessness, consider alternatives like "careless" or "inattentive".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "negligent" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns by describing a lack of due care or attention. Ludwig provides examples showcasing its usage in various contexts, confirming this function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "negligent" is used to describe a lack of due care or attention, often resulting in harm or legal consequences. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and shows its frequent usage in news, formal business, and legal contexts. While alternatives like "careless" or "remiss" exist, "negligent" often carries a stronger implication of breached duty. When deploying this word in your writing, be sure of a clear duty of care and avoid generic use of it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

careless

Emphasizes a lack of attention or caution.

remiss

Highlights a failure to fulfill a duty or responsibility.

neglectful

Directly indicates a lack of care or attention.

lax

Suggests a lack of strictness or diligence.

derelict

Implies a conscious abandonment of duty.

slack

Indicates a lack of effort or energy.

inattentive

Focuses on a lack of attention or awareness.

forgetful

Suggests a tendency to overlook or omit things.

heedless

Emphasizes a disregard for potential consequences.

thoughtless

Highlights a lack of consideration for others.

FAQs

How can I use "negligent" in a sentence?

You can use "negligent" to describe someone who fails to exercise reasonable care, like in the sentence: "The company was found to be "negligent" in its handling of hazardous waste."

What can I say instead of "negligent"?

You can use alternatives like "careless", "remiss", or "neglectful" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "negligent" or "neglectful"?

"Negligent" often implies a failure to exercise reasonable care, potentially leading to legal consequences, while "neglectful" generally describes a lack of care or attention.

What's the difference between "negligent" and "reckless"?

"Negligent" describes a failure to exercise reasonable care, whereas "reckless" implies a conscious disregard for a known risk. Recklessness is generally considered a more severe form of culpability.