neglected; neglecting; neglects
1
: to give little attention or respect to : disregard
The building has been neglected for years.
2
: to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness
The prison guard neglected his duty.
neglecter
noun
1
: an act or instance of neglecting something
2
: the condition of being neglected
Examples of neglect in a Sentence
Verb
The building has been neglected for years.
The city has neglected the teacher shortage for too long.
The prison guard neglected his duty.
Noun
The park was overgrown and littered from years of neglect.
The parents were charged with child neglect.
The house is in a state of neglect.
Recent Examples on the Web
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025
Year after year, more money flows into police budgets while real needs — housing and community programs — remain neglected.
—Bulmaro Vicente, Oc Register, 26 Oct. 2025
Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2025
Separate Oklahoma court records reviewed by PEOPLE show that Rodriquez was charged in 2021 with child neglect and domestic abuse — assault and battery in the presence of a child.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for neglect
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Playing pick-and-roll with Jamal Murray, he was neglected by two Phoenix Suns defenders for just long enough that neither could recover to him by the time Murray fired him a quick pass.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025
Year after year, more money flows into police budgets while real needs — housing and community programs — remain neglected.
—Bulmaro Vicente, Oc Register, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
Disability Rights Arkansas offers various services, including litigation assistance and investigations into abuse and neglect at health care facilities.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2025
Separate Oklahoma court records reviewed by PEOPLE show that Rodriquez was charged in 2021 with child neglect and domestic abuse — assault and battery in the presence of a child.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for neglect
Cite this Entry
“Neglect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neglect. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
neglect
1 of 2 verb
ne·glect
ni-ˈglekt 
1
: to give little attention or respect to
neglected their garden
2
: to leave undone or not attended to especially through carelessness
don't neglect to feed the fish
neglecter
noun
neglect
2 of 2 noun1
: an act or instance of neglecting something
his neglect of important responsibilities
2
: the condition of being neglected
the stone wall was collapsing from years of neglect
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share