neglect of duty

Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition

Noun: A legal term describing the failure to fulfill an obligation or responsibility that one is required to perform, often resulting in a breach of a formal or implied duty.

Usage

This term is primarily used in formal, legal, and professional contexts to describe a specific type of failure or omission. It implies a dereliction of a known responsibility.

Examples
  • The officer was dismissed for neglect of duty after failing to secure the evidence properly.
  • The lawsuit alleged neglect of duty by the company's directors for not reviewing the safety reports.
  • A professional can be held liable for neglect of duty if their inaction causes harm to a client.
Advanced Usage
  • Gross neglect of duty: This specifies a severe, willful, or reckless failure to perform one's duty, often with more serious legal consequences.
    • The judge ruled that the guard's absence constituted gross neglect of duty.
Variants and Related Words
  • Dereliction of duty: A very close synonym, often used interchangeably in legal and military contexts.
  • Nonfeasance (n): A legal term for the failure to perform an act that one is legally obligated to do.
  • Negligence (n): A broader legal term for failure to exercise proper care, which can include acts of omission (neglect) or commission.
Synonyms
  • Dereliction
  • Breach of duty
  • Failure to perform
  • Default
Antonyms
  • Fulfillment of duty
  • Discharge of duty
  • Diligence
  • Meticulousness
Noun
  1. (law) breach of a duty