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Law vocabulary · Rights & Obligations

Negligence

Meaning in law, with examples

/ˈneɡlɪdʒəns/nounCommon term

In law, negligence means: Failure to take the care that a reasonable person would take in the same situation, which causes harm or loss to someone else.

In Turkish: ihmal, kusur, özensizlik, taksir

How it is used

The most common tort. To win a negligence claim, the claimant usually shows a duty of care, a breach of that duty and damage caused by the breach. The adjective is 'negligent': 'negligent advice', 'negligent driving'.

Example sentences

  1. The hospital admitted negligence and agreed to pay compensation.

  2. The accountants were sued for negligence after they missed a major tax error.

Common collocations

  • claim in negligence
  • medical negligence
  • gross negligence
  • admit negligence
  • negligent advice
  • tortA wrongful act, other than a breach of contract, that causes harm to another person and allows them to claim compensation in a civil court.
  • liabilityLegal responsibility for something, especially the duty to pay for harm, loss or debts; in accounting, also an amount that a company owes.
  • damagesMoney that a court orders one party to pay another as compensation for loss or harm caused by a breach of contract or another legal wrong.
  • breachThe act of breaking a law, a contract term or a duty; also used as a verb meaning to break such a rule or promise.

More terms: Rights & Obligations

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.