the trait of neglecting responsibilities and lacking concern
"His careless attitude toward his family duties was a clear sign of neglect."
failure to act with the prudence that a reasonable person would exercise under the same circumstances
"The driver was charged with negligence after crashing into a pedestrian while texting, demonstrating his failure to act with the prudence required in such dangerous conditions."
The act of neglecting.
"The pile of dirty dishes in the sink was a clear sign of his neglect."
To fail to care for or attend to something.
"The garden began to look overgrown because he neglected to water it during the summer drought."
In plain English: To neglect something means to fail to give it enough attention, care, or effort that it needs.
"You should not neglect your daily exercise routine if you want to stay healthy."
Usage: Use neglect when you intentionally ignore someone's needs, such as failing to feed a pet, rather than simply forgetting an occasional task. This verb often carries legal weight in cases of child abuse where basic necessities are withheld over time.
The word "neglect" comes from Middle English and ultimately Latin, where it originally meant to disregard or fail to pick up something important. It entered modern usage as a verb describing this act of paying no attention to one's duties or responsibilities.