- Main Entry:
- 1ne·glect
- Pronunciation:
-
\ni-ˈglekt\
- Function:
- transitive verb
- Etymology:
- Latin neglectus, past participle of neglegere, neclegere, from nec- not (akin to ne- not) + legere to gather — more at no, legend
- Date:
- 1529
1
: to give little attention or respect to : disregard
2
: to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness
— ne·glect·er noun
synonyms neglect,
disregard,
ignore,
overlook,
slight,
forget mean to pass over without giving due attention.
neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention
<habitually neglected his studies>.
disregard suggests voluntary inattention
<disregarded the wishes of his family>.
ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious
<ignored the snide remark>.
overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care
<in my rush I overlooked a key example>.
slight implies contemptuous or disdainful disregarding or omitting
<slighted several major authors in her survey>.
forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind
<forget what others say>.
