Meaning & use
negligent manslaughter
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountablelegallaw
The crime of causing someone's death through careless failure to take proper care, without intending to kill.
Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun; you do not say 'a negligent manslaughter'.
Patterns
- be charged with negligent manslaughter
- convicted of negligent manslaughter
- a case of negligent manslaughter
The driver was charged with negligent manslaughter after the crash.
She pleaded guilty to negligent manslaughter and was given a suspended sentence.
The company faced allegations of negligent manslaughter over the factory fire.
Common combinations
- charge with negligent manslaughter
- The nurse was charged with negligent manslaughter after giving the wrong drug.
- convict of negligent manslaughter
- He was convicted of negligent manslaughter and sentenced to five years.
- plead guilty to negligent manslaughter
- The pilot pleaded guilty to negligent manslaughter.
- face negligent manslaughter charges
- The supervisor may face negligent manslaughter charges.
Synonyms and how they differ
- involuntary manslaughter
- A broader US category that includes deaths caused by reckless or negligent acts, not just negligence.
- gross negligence manslaughter
- The British equivalent, requiring a very high degree of negligence.
Word family
- manslaughter noun
- The general crime of killing someone without premeditation.
- negligence noun
- Failure to take proper care, often leading to harm.
Commonly confused: negligent manslaughter or murder?
negligent manslaughter vs murder
Murder requires intent to kill or cause serious harm; negligent manslaughter involves no such intent.
Practice
Which phrase correctly completes the sentence: 'The surgeon was charged with ____ after a fatal mistake during surgery.'?
Choose one answer.
Negligent manslaughter is uncountable and takes no article. The other options wrongly treat it as a countable noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “negligent manslaughter”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.