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