noun phrase · formal
criminal negligence
UK/ˈkrɪmɪnəl ˈnɛɡlɪdʒəns/US/ˈkrɪmənəl ˈnɛɡlɪdʒəns/CRIM·i·nal NEG·li·gence
a serious form of carelessness that is so extreme it can lead to criminal charges
Examples
“He was charged with criminal negligence after the safety checks were ignored.”
“Proving criminal negligence requires showing a gross departure from reasonable conduct.”
“Medical malpractice can sometimes amount to criminal negligence.”
Band 8 sentence
“The prosecution argued that the doctor's failure to follow basic protocols amounted to criminal negligence.”
Collocations
- charged with criminal negligence
- convicted of criminal negligence
- amount to criminal negligence
Word family
Common mistakes
criminal negligent→criminal negligence
negligence crime→criminal negligence
Say it for a higher band
5negligence→6serious negligence→7+criminal negligence
Synonyms
gross negligence
Easily confused
gross negligence
“The court found evidence of gross negligence in the company's safety procedures.”
Related words
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In Crime & Law
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