Neg·li·gence n.  The quality or state of being negligent; lack of due diligence or care; omission of duty; habitual neglect; heedlessness.
 2. An act or instance of negligence or carelessness.
    remarking his beauties, . . . I must also point out his negligences and defects.   --Blair.
 3. Law The omission of the care usual under the circumstances, being convertible with the Roman culpa.  A specialist is bound to higher skill and diligence in his specialty than one who is not a specialist, and liability for negligence varies acordingly.
 Contributory negligence. See under Contributory.
 Syn: -- Neglect; inattention; heedlessness; disregard; slight.
 Usage: -- Negligence, Neglect.  These two words are freely interchanged in our older writers; but a distinction has gradually sprung up between them.  As now generally used, negligence is the habit, and neglect the act, of leaving things undone or unattended to.  We are negligent as a general trait of character; we are guilty of neglect in particular cases, or in reference to individuals who had a right to our attentions.

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 Con·trib·u·to·ry a. Contributing to the same stock or purpose; promoting the same end; bringing assistance to some joint design, or increase to some common stock; contributive.
    Bonfires of contributory wood.   --Chapman.
 Contributory negligence Law, negligence by an injured party, which combines with the negligence of the injurer in producing the injury, and which bars recovery when it is the proximate cause of the injury.


 contributory negligence
      n : (law) behavior by the plaintiff that contributes to the harm
          resulting from the defendant's negligence; in common law
          any degree of contributory negligence would bar the
          plaintiff from collecting damages