negligence
UK: ˈnɛɡlɪdʒəns | US: ˈnɛɡlɪdʒəns
n. failure to take proper care in doing something, resulting in damage or unintended consequences
n. (Law) a breach of duty of care that causes harm to another party
The word "negligence" traces back to Latin neglegentia, derived from negligere ("to neglect"), itself formed from neg- (a variant of non-, meaning "not") + legere ("to choose" or "to gather"). The root lig- reflects the idea of "selective attention," implying a failure (neg-) to choose proper care. Over time, the term evolved in legal and everyday contexts to denote careless behavior with consequential harm.
The accident was caused by the driver’s negligence.
The doctor was sued for medical negligence.
Her negligence in maintaining the equipment led to its failure.
The company admitted negligence in handling customer data.
Negligence in safety protocols can have severe consequences.