/ ˈneglɪdʒənt; NAmE / adjective
1.
( formal or law ) failing to give sb/sth enough care or attention, especially when this has serious results :
The school had been negligent in not informing the child's parents about the incident.
grossly negligent
2.
( literary ) ( of a person or their manner ) relaxed; not formal or awkward
SYN nonchalant :
He waved his hand in a negligent gesture.
► neg·li·gent·ly adverb :
The defendant drove negligently and hit a lamp post.
She was leaning negligently against the wall.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French , or from Latin negligent- disregarding, from the verb negligere (variant of neglegere disregard, slight, from neg- not + legere choose, pick up).