Definition

1. Noun:

   • The state or fact of being uncared for or disregarded: "Neglect" can refer to the condition of something that has not received proper attention or maintenance.
   • Failure to give proper care or attention: It also means the act of failing to do something that should be done, often due to carelessness or indifference.
   • Habitual lack of care: "Neglect" can describe a persistent trait of being negligent or unconcerned.

2. Verb:

   • To fail to care for or give attention to: The most common meaning is to not take care of someone or something that requires care.
   • To omit to do or perform: It means to fail to carry out a necessary action or duty.
   • To disregard or ignore: "Neglect" can also mean to pay little or no attention to something.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The old building showed signs of years of neglect. (The building was in poor condition because it had not been maintained.)
  • Child neglect is a serious form of abuse. (This refers to the failure to provide necessary care for a child.)
  • His neglect of his duties led to his dismissal. (His failure to perform his job responsibilities resulted in him being fired.)

• Verb:

  • She warned him not to neglect his health. (She advised him not to fail in taking care of his health.)
  • The gardener neglected to water the plants. (The gardener failed to perform the task of watering.)
  • He felt neglected by his busy friends. (He felt ignored or given insufficient attention by his friends.)

Advanced Usage

• "Benign neglect": A policy of deliberate non-intervention, often in the hope that a situation will improve on its own.

  • The government practiced a policy of benign neglect towards the emerging industry.

• "To suffer from neglect": To be in a poor state because of a lack of care.

  • The historic monument is suffering from neglect and needs restoration.

Variants and Related Words

• Negligence (n): Failure to take proper care, often used in legal contexts.

  • The accident was caused by the driver's negligence.

• Negligent (adj): Failing to take proper care; characterized by neglect.

  • He was found to be negligent in his duties.

• Negligible (adj): So small or unimportant as to be not worth considering.

  • The difference in price is negligible.

Synonyms

• Disregard: To pay no attention to; ignore.
• Overlook: To fail to notice or consider.
• Ignore: To refuse to take notice of or acknowledge.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Neglect to do something: To fail to do something that one ought to do. (This is the standard verb construction, not a separable phrasal verb).
  • He neglected to mention the most important detail.

Related Idioms

• To fall into neglect/neglect and decay: To gradually deteriorate due to a lack of care and maintenance.

  • Without regular upkeep, the beautiful garden fell into neglect.

• Criminal neglect: A severe failure to act that is considered a crime, especially regarding the care of a dependent.

  • The parents were charged with criminal neglect for leaving their children alone.

Noun

1. failure to act with the prudence that a reasonable person would exercise under the same circumstances
2. the trait of neglecting responsibilities and lacking concern
3. willful lack of care and attention
4. the state of something that has been unused and neglected
   • the house was in a terrible state of neglect
5. lack of attention and due care

Verb

1. give little or no attention to
   • Disregard the errors
2. fail to attend to
   • he neglects his children
3. fail to do something; leave something undone
   • She failed to notice that her child was no longer in his crib
   • The secretary failed to call the customer and the company lost the account
4. leave undone or leave out
   • How could I miss that typo?
   • The workers on the conveyor belt miss one out of ten