WordGarden.ionegligible
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /nˈɛɡlɪdʒəbəl/
US
- /ˈnɛɡlədʒəbəl/
Meanings
Adjective
so small, slight, or unimportant as to be barely worth considering
Beyond the definition
Imagine you're building a magnificent castle out of LEGO bricks. If someone accidentally knocks over one tiny piece, that loss is probably negligible—it won't ruin the whole project! That's what "negligible" means: so small or unimportant that it doesn't really make a difference.
It's often used when talking about amounts, differences, or risks. A doctor might say a side effect of a medicine is "negligible" if it's very mild and unlikely to cause problems. Or an economist might describe a tiny change in the unemployment rate as negligible. It's not zero, just so small that we don't need to worry about it.
"Negligible" describes something so small or unimportant that it can be ignored for practical purposes. It does not mean nothing; it means the effect or amount is so minor that it has no real importance in the situation.
You'll often encounter "negligible" in scientific and mathematical contexts when dealing with very small quantities or errors. For example, a scientist might say "the error margin is negligible," meaning the potential for inaccuracy is so low it doesn't affect the results.
However, its use extends beyond technical fields. You could describe a political party's support as negligible if they have almost no voters, or a financial loss as negligible if it's a tiny fraction of your overall income. It can also be used to downplay risks: "The chance of winning the lottery is negligible."
It's important to remember that "negligible" isn't absolute zero; it simply means something is so small that, for all practical purposes, it doesn't matter. So next time you encounter a tiny detail or a very small amount, consider whether it might be negligible!
Examples
- 1
Test error
The error was negligible, so we did not need to repeat the test.
- 2
Final result
The change made a negligible difference to the final result.
- 3
Travel cost
The extra cost is negligible compared with the price of the trip.
- 4
Medical risk
The medicine has a negligible risk of serious side effects.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Customer impact
The company said the delay would have a negligible impact on customers.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- negligible effect
- negligible amount
- negligible risk
- statistically negligible
Word family
- negligibly
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Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- negligibleadjective