Neglectful

Neglectful is an adjective describing someone or something that fails to give proper attention, care, or consideration. It can apply to people, such as a parent or caregiver who does not provide necessary support, or to objects, places, or systems that require maintenance or oversight but are left unattended. The term often implies a persistent tendency to ignore duties rather than a single lapse.

In contrast, negligent is more commonly used in legal and formal contexts to denote failure to exercise reasonable care that results in harm or risk. Neglectful focuses more on the act of neglect itself and the attitude of withholding attention or care, while negligent emphasizes culpable carelessness or a breach of a standard of care.

Usage examples include a neglectful parent, neglectful supervision of a child, neglectful maintenance of equipment, or leaving tasks unfinished due to a neglectful attitude. The word can also describe institutions or systems that fail to safeguard safety or welfare. In modern usage, neglectful is common in everyday language; in formal or legal writing, negligent may be preferred for precision and to convey a standard of care.

Etymology: neglectful is formed from neglect plus the suffix -ful; neglect derives from the Latin neglegere, "to neglect." Related terms include remiss, careless, inattentive, and, for contrast in law, negligent. See also care, maintenance, and duty.