Negligence is pronounced "NEG-luh-jens" (IPA: /ˈnɛɡ.lə.dʒəns/). The word has three syllables, with stress on the first syllable.
The pronunciation follows standard English phonetic patterns. The "g" in "neg" sounds like a hard "g" as in "go," not a soft "j" sound. The "li" in "li-jens" is pronounced like "li" in "limit," not "lee" as in "lemon."
There are no distinct types of pronunciations for "negligence." However, it's often confused with similar-sounding words like "negligee" (a type of clothing) and "negligible" (meaning too small to be significant).
The term is commonly used in legal contexts to describe failure to exercise reasonable care, resulting in harm or damage. For example, "The jury found the company guilty of negligence for failing to maintain safe working conditions."
Many people incorrectly pronounce "negligence" as "NEJ-li-jens" or "ne-GLI-jens." This confusion arises from the word's similarity to "negligee," which is pronounced "nay-lee-ZHAY." To avoid this mistake, focus on the hard "g" sound in the first syllable and the "li" sound in the second syllable.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the correct pronunciation is "NEG-luh-jens." The Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary also confirms this pronunciation.