# careless

Pronunciation: say "KAIR-luhs" US /kɛɹ.ləs/, AUS /keː.ləs/; UK say "KAIR-lis" /ˈkɛəlɪs/

## Adjective

1. Not giving enough attention or thought to something, especially when harm or mistakes could result.
   - Simple: Not paying enough attention, so mistakes or harm can happen.
   - _A careless error in the report cost the company thousands of dollars._
   - _She grew careless with deadlines after years in the same job._
2. Not concerned or worried about something; indifferent to it.
   - Simple: Not worried about something and not caring what might happen.
   - _Careless of the storm warnings, the sailors pushed farther out to sea._
   - _He was careless about money, spending whatever he earned without a thought._

## Adjective

3. Free from care; unworried and untroubled by anxiety. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: Happy and relaxed, with nothing to worry about.
   - _They passed a careless afternoon in the meadow, far from the troubles of town._
   - _His careless laughter rang through the hall as if no sorrow could touch him._

## Origin

From Middle English careles, from Old English carlēas ('careless, reckless, free from care'), formed from care plus the suffix -less. It is related to Icelandic kærulaus ('careless, negligent').

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/careless (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).