inattention

Other forms: inattentions

When you don't pay full attention to something or someone, that's inattention. Your inattention while you're driving can lead to mistakes like running a red light or bumping into the car in front of you.

If you're not focusing on something enough, you're guilty of inattention. Inattention can be dangerous when you're flying a plane, taking a math test, or babysitting an active toddler. When you add the "not" prefix in- to attention (which comes from the Latin attendere, "give heed to," or literally "stretch toward"), you get inattention.

Definitions of inattention

1. noun

   lack of attention
   antonyms:

   attention

   the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

   types:

   heedlessness, inattentiveness

   a lack of attentiveness (as to children or helpless people)

   distraction

   an obstacle to attention

   disregard, neglect

   lack of attention and due care

   omission

   neglecting to do something; leaving out or passing over something

   type of:

   basic cognitive process

   cognitive processes involved in obtaining and storing knowledge