inattention

noun

in·​at·​ten·​tion ˌi-nə-ˈten(t)-shən How to pronounce inattention (audio)
: failure to pay attention

Examples of inattention in a Sentence

Many traffic accidents are the result of driver inattention. They lost several potential clients through their inattention to detail.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And public inattention to the subject doesn't help, offering few major opportunities for rebranding. Daniel W. Drezner, Foreign Affairs, 1 Jan. 2013 This internal presentation of ADHD—characterized by inattention rather than hyperactivity—is more common in women but often flies under the radar. Megan Bruneau, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024 That points to a bit of irony here — schools are serving substances that trigger behaviors like inattention and hyperactivity which interfere with the very purpose for which students are in the building. Allison Getty, Baltimore Sun, 25 Nov. 2024 The 2024 campaign has been unusual both in its intense focus on the health of the candidates and in its relative inattention to the health of the people. Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for inattention 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1670, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inattention was circa 1670

Dictionary Entries Near inattention

Cite this Entry

“Inattention.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inattention. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

inattention

noun
in·​at·​ten·​tion ˌin-ə-ˈten-chən How to pronounce inattention (audio)
: failure to pay attention
inattentively adverb
inattentiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on inattention

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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