remiss

[ri-mis] /rɪˈmɪs/

adjective

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

He's terribly remiss in his work.

characterized by negligence or carelessness.

lacking force or energy; languid; sluggish.

Origin

1375-1425; late Middle English < Latin remissus (past participle of remittere to send back, slacken, relax); see remit

Related forms

remissly, adverb

remissness, noun

overremiss, adjective

overremissly, adverb

overremissness, noun

Synonyms

1, 2. derelict, thoughtless, lax, slack, neglectful. 3. dilatory, slothful, slow.

Examples from the web for remiss

How remiss of me and an interesting quirk of academic isolation.
Technically, this isn't a mode of cooking, but it's so useful that it would be remiss not to mention it here.
Counselors have been remiss in not providing for the counseling needs of elderly.
We would be remiss if this publication didn't recognize and report on it.

British Dictionary definitions for remiss

remiss

/rɪˈmɪs/

adjective (postpositive)

lacking in care or attention to duty; negligent

lacking in energy; dilatory

Derived Forms

remissly, adverb
remissness, noun

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for remiss

adj.

early 15c., "weak, dissolved," from Latin remissus "relaxed, languid; negligent," past participle of remittere "slacken, abate, let go" (see remit). Meaning "characterized by lack of strictness" is attested from mid-15c.; that of "characterized by negligence" is from mid-15c.