Reckless

Reckless is an adjective describing behavior that shows a deliberate lack of concern for potential consequences or for the safety of others. A reckless action typically involves disregarding risk or acting with indifference to harm, even when the outcomes are foreseeable. The term is used in everyday language to criticize irresponsible decisions and in formal contexts to characterize conduct as dangerous or unsafe.

In legal contexts, recklessness is a mental state distinct from mere negligence and from intentional wrongdoing. It commonly refers to conscious disregard of a substantial and unjustifiable risk. Jurisdictions vary in their exact formulation; some define recklessness subjectively as a defendant’s awareness of risk, while others apply an objective standard. Proving recklessness can elevate charges such as reckless endangerment or reckless driving.

Etymology and usage. The word derives from the verb reck, meaning to care or concern, plus the suffix -less, yielding 'without care.' The term dates to Middle English and has since broadened from moral or religious cautions to secular judgments of risk. Reckless is often contrasted with negligent (failing to take precautions) and intentional (deliberate wrongdoing).