Onzorgvuldige

Onzorgvuldige is a Dutch adjective meaning careless or negligent. It is used to describe actions, practices, or conduct that fail to meet the expected standard of care in a given context. The term is formed by adding the negating prefix on- to zorgvuldig, the word for careful, and it agrees with the noun it modifies (for example, onzorgvuldige handelingen).

In usage, onzorgvuldige is common in both everyday language and more formal registers. It frequently appears in legal, safety, and quality-control contexts to indicate fault or failure to exercise due care. The related noun onzorgvuldigheid denotes carelessness or negligence as a concept, while the related verb phrase onzorgvuldig handelen refers to negligent conduct. Opposites include zorgvuldigheid (carefulness) and zorgvuldig handelen (acting with care). Distinctions exist among similar terms: nalatig emphasizes fault or neglect, onachtzaam emphasizes inattentiveness, and roekeloosheid conveys recklessness.

Examples in context:

- De onzorgvuldige uitvoering van het werk veroorzaakte fouten en extra kosten. (The careless execution of the work caused errors and extra costs.)

- Bij de verwerking van persoonsgegevens is onzorgvuldigheid in veel gevallen streng regels.

See also terms related to carefulness and negligence, such as zorgvuldigheid, nalatigheid, and roekeloosheid. The concept is widely used in discussions of safety, compliance, and quality assurance in Dutch-speaking settings.