negligent homicide

IPA/ˌneɡ.lɪ.dʒənt ˈhɒm.ɪ.saɪd/
IPA/ˌneɡ.lə.dʒənt ˈhɑː.mə.saɪd/

negligent homicide — noun

1. a criminal offense that applies when a person's failure to take reasonable care

1.nounC1
Definition

a criminal offense that applies when a person's failure to take reasonable care or follow safety rules leads to another person's death, without the intent to kill

Example

The judge sentenced Walid to four years for negligent homicide after the scaffolding collapsed.

passive: be sentenced to [term] for negligent homicide

Yuna was charged with negligent homicide for failing to repair her delivery truck's brakes.

passive: be charged with negligent homicide for [reason]

Common collocations
  • charged with negligent homicide
  • convicted of negligent homicide
  • guilty of negligent homicide
  • accused of negligent homicide
  • negligent homicide charge
  • negligent homicide case
  • negligent homicide trial
  • negligent homicide laws
Synonyms
  • manslaughter

    a broader category that includes both reckless and negligent killings; often carries a heavier penalty than negligent homicide in many US states

  • involuntary manslaughter

    similar concept to negligent homicide but more common in UK legal systems; emphasizes the unintentional nature of the death

Antonyms
  • murder

    requires intent or malice aforethought, whereas negligent homicide is purely unintentional

  • self-defense

    a justified killing with no criminal liability

Grammar Patterns

be charged with negligent homicide

be convicted of negligent homicide

Usage Note

A legal term used mainly in US criminal law. The charge applies when death results from a failure to meet a reasonable standard of care — not from an intentional act. Distinguish from manslaughter, which can involve intentional recklessness; negligent homicide involves only carelessness or oversight.

Common Mistakes

The driver was charged with murder after falling asleep at the wheel.
The driver was charged with negligent homicide after falling asleep at the wheel.
Murder requires intent to kill; negligent homicide applies when death results from carelessness.
Negligent homicide means accidentally killing someone.
Negligent homicide is a specific criminal charge for deaths caused by a failure to take reasonable care.
'Accidentally' is too broad; the law requires proof that the person failed to meet a duty of care.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four terms describe unintentional killings, but they differ in legal scope and severity. Manslaughter is the broadest category, covering both reckless acts (e.g. knowingly driving at high speed through a crowded street) and negligent acts (e.g. failing to check blind spots). In many US states, manslaughter carries a harsher penalty than negligent homicide, which is reserved for pure carelessness without conscious risk-taking. Involuntary manslaughter is the UK equivalent, though its definition overlaps heavily with negligent homicide. Criminally negligent homicide is a variant used in some US codes that emphasises a gross departure from ordinary care. Vehicular homicide is a narrower charge involving death caused by a motor vehicle — often while driving under the influence or distracted. For example, a driver who runs a red light and kills a pedestrian may face vehicular homicide, whereas a factory owner who ignores safety warnings leading to a worker's death would more likely face general negligent homicide.

manslaughter ↗involuntary manslaughtercriminally negligent homicidevehicular homicide

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • be charged with
  • be convicted of
  • be found guilty of
  • face charges of

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The term combines 'negligent', from Latin 'neglegentia' ('carelessness' or 'neglect'), with 'homicide', from Latin 'homicidium' ('the killing of a person', formed from 'homo' 'human being' + 'caedere' 'to kill'). The compound phrase 'negligent homicide' emerged in American legal usage in the mid-20th century to distinguish unintentional killings caused by carelessness from more serious homicide charges like manslaughter or murder.