remiss

[ri-mis]

adjective

1. negligent, careless, or slow in performing one's duty, business, etc..

   He's terribly remiss in his work.

   Synonyms: neglectful, slack, lax, thoughtless, derelict

2. characterized by negligence or carelessness.

   Synonyms: neglectful, slack, lax, thoughtless, derelict

3. lacking force or energy; languid; sluggish.

   Synonyms: slow, slothful, dilatory

remiss

/ rɪˈmɪs /

adjective

1. lacking in care or attention to duty; negligent

2. lacking in energy; dilatory

Other Word Forms

• remissness noun
• remissly adverb
• overremiss adjective
• overremissly adverb
• overremissness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of remiss¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin remissus, past participle of remittere “to send back, slacken, relax”; remit

Word History and Origins

Origin of remiss¹

C15: from Latin remissus from remittere to release, from _re- + mittere to send

Synonym Study

See neglect.

Example Sentences

Another Labour MP, Stella Creasy, said it would be "remiss" of the government to ignore the concerns of her colleagues.

From BBC

Speaking to the BBC ahead of that meeting, Labour MP Stella Creasy said it would be "remiss" of the government to dismiss concerns over the winter fuel payment.

From BBC

We can probably rule out these final two potential outcomes in the event that Preston and Hull draw and Luton win, but it would be remiss not to mention them:

From BBC

It would be remiss not to say I wish I had got to world number one, but that wasn't in my path.

From BBC

When is the last time you’ve heard a college kid use the word “remiss?”

From Los Angeles Times