Negligible Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈnɛɡlɪdʒəbəl/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Adjective

Definition

So small or insignificant as to be easily overlooked or disregarded; trifling or minor.

Examples

• The cost of the repair was negligible compared to the overall budget.
• The doctor said the risk of side effects was negligible.

Synonyms

• Insignificant
• Minor
• Trivial

Antonyms

• Significant
• Major
• Important

Additional Information

Negligible is often used to describe a small or insignificant quantity or amount. It can also be used to describe an insignificant or unimportant thing. In scientific and mathematical contexts, negligible is used to describe a value or quantity that is so small as to be safely ignored.

For example, in medicine, a doctor might say that the risk of side effects from a particular medication is negligible, meaning that it is extremely low and unlikely to occur. In finance, a company might consider a particular expense to be negligible if it is a small fraction of their overall budget.

Etymology

The word “negligible” comes from the Latin words “neglegere”, meaning “to neglect”, and “-ible”, a suffix forming an adjective. It has been used in the English language since the 15th century.

Usage Notes

When using the word “negligible”, be careful not to confuse it with “neglect”. While both words come from the same Latin root, they have different meanings and uses.

Cultural References

The phrase “negligible risk” has been used in popular culture to describe a wide range of situations, from medical side effects to financial investments.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• “Negligible effect”
• “Negligible impact”
• “Negligible difference”

Related Words or Phrases

• Insignificant
• Minor
• Trivial
• Inconsequential

Collocations

• “Negligible risk of”
• “Negligible impact on”
• “Negligible difference in”

Frequency of Use

The word “negligible” is commonly used in formal and technical writing, particularly in scientific, medical, and financial contexts. It is less commonly used in informal conversation.

Common Misspellings

• Negligable
• Neglegible
• Negligeble