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négligence

negligence, carelessness

noun neh-glee-ZHAHNSS Rare

Origin: Latin negligentia

Usage Note

Négligence implies a failure of duty or care, and carries legal weight in contexts like négligence médicale (medical negligence). The adjective négligent describes a careless person. Do not confuse with nonchalance, which refers more to a relaxed, unstudied manner rather than a harmful failure of attention.

Examples

"L'accident était dû à la négligence du conducteur."

Natural Translation

The accident was due to the driver's negligence.

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