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Webster 1913 Edition


Negligence

Neg′li-gence

,
Noun.
[F.
négligence
, L.
negligentia
.]
The quality or state of being negligent; lack of due diligence or care; omission of duty; habitual neglect; heedlessness.
2.
An act or instance of negligence or carelessness.
remarking his beauties, . . . I must also point out his
negligences
and defects.
Blair.
3.
(Law)
The omission of the care usual under the circumstances, being convertible with the Roman
culpa
. A specialist is bound to higher skill and diligence in his specialty than one who is not a specialist, and liability for negligence varies acordingly.
Contributory negligence
.
See under
Contributory
.
Syn. – Neglect; inattention; heedlessness; disregard; slight.
Negligence
,
Neglect
. These two words are freely interchanged in our older writers; but a distinction has gradually sprung up between them. As now generally used, negligence is the habit, and neglect the act, of leaving things undone or unattended to. We are negligent as a general trait of character; we are guilty of neglect in particular cases, or in reference to individuals who had a right to our attentions.

Webster 1828 Edition


Negligence

NEGLIGENCE

,
Noun.
1.
Neglect; omission to do; more generally,
2.
Habitual omission of that which ought to be done, or a habit of omitting to do things, either from carelessness or design. Negligence is usually the child of sloth or laziness, and the parent of disorders in business, often of poverty.

Definition 2024


negligence

negligence

See also: négligence

English

Noun

negligence (usually uncountable, plural negligences)

  1. The state of being negligent.
  2. (law, singular only) The tort whereby a duty of reasonable care was breached, causing damage: any conduct short of intentional or reckless action that falls below the legal standard for preventing unreasonable injury.
  3. (law, uncountable) The breach of a duty of care: the failure to exercise a standard of care that a reasonable person would have in a similar situation.

Usage notes

  • The breach of a duty of care is one element of the tort of negligence, but is also called negligence; one must therefore take care to clarify what is meant.

Translations


Middle French

Noun

negligence f (uncountable)

  1. negligence (state of being negligent)