neglect

noun C1 Formal

Meaning

Neglect refers to the failure to give proper attention, care, or consideration to someone or something, often resulting in detrimental consequences; it encompasses both intentional disregard and unintentional oversight, highlighting a spectrum of inattent

💡 While "neglect" can imply a passive absence of care, it is important to differentiate it from active forms of abandonment or malice; it is often used in discussions of social policy and ethics.

Example Sentences

The company's neglect of customer feedback harmed its reputation .

The company's neglect of safety protocols caused serious problems .

The report highlighted serious neglect in maintaining the public infrastructure .

The study highlights the consequences of neglect in early childhood development .

Word in Context

Every morning Elena walked past the small courtyard behind her building and felt uneasy about its slow deterioration . She attributed the change to collective neglect rather than a single person's fault , since the residents had busy schedules and no formal maintenance rota . Rather than complain , she proposed a simple plan at the next tenants' meeting to allocate weekends for regular upkeep and minor repairs . The first session was modest — sweeping leaves , trimming overgrown shrubs and fixing loose paving stones — but it immediately improved the atmosphere . Neighbors who had barely exchanged greetings before began to chat , share tools and suggest other small improvements . Within a month the courtyard felt cared for again , a reminder that modest effort can effectively reverse gradual decline .

Common Phrases

chronic neglect systemic neglect neglect of duty

Synonyms

Related Words

Never forget "neglect"

Set a daily goal, reinforce with word cards and games, and track your progress in the Vocab5000 app — learn every C1 level word permanently with our science-based repetition system.

From App StoreDownload

From Google PlayDownload