irresponsibleir‧re‧spon‧si‧ble /ˌɪrɪˈspɒnsəbəl◂ $ -ˈspɑːn-/ ●○○ adjective 
When it comes to money, Dan is completely irresponsible.it is irresponsible (for somebody) to do something It would be irresponsible not to turn up for work without calling. It was highly irresponsible of him to leave the children on their own in the pool.► see thesaurus at careless—irresponsibly adverb: He was acting totally irresponsibly.—irresponsibility /ˌɪrɪspɒnsəˈbɪləti $ -spɑːn-/ noun [uncountable]
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Critics accused the governor of being irresponsible, and claimed that his new proposal would put thousands of US troops at risk.
- Police blame higher crime rates on irresponsible parents who allow their teenage children to stay out all night.
- When it comes to money, Dan is completely irresponsible.
- By shifting blame to their consumers, these industries have deftly evaded financial accountability for unsafe products and irresponsible marketing.
- Careless, stupid and now irresponsible.
- He is irresponsible about his debts, alcoholic, accident-prone, and susceptible to disease.
- Richard always used to be seen as irresponsible in the first half and elegiac in the second.
- The implication was clear: to discuss Article 6 would be an irresponsible aberration.
- There is so much poverty, corruption, irresponsible decision-making around.
THESAURUS
not paying enough attention to what you are doing, so that you make mistakes, damage things etc: · I made a few careless mistakes.· It was careless of you to leave your purse lying about.· He started getting careless about taking his medication.
often dropping or breaking things because you move around in a careless way: · I’m so clumsy, I spilt milk all over the floor.· a clumsy child
careless and lazy in the way you do your work or in your behaviour generally: · As a student, he was brilliant but sloppy.· I will not tolerate sloppy work.
especially written doing dangerous or stupid things without thinking about your own or other people’s safety: · The driver of the car was arrested for reckless driving.· His actions showed a reckless disregard for human life.
careless in a way that might affect other people, especially when you should be taking care of them: · It’s irresponsible for parents to let their children smoke.· his irresponsible attitude to keeping animals
carelessly saying something that upsets or embarrasses someone, without intending to do this: · He kept making tactless remarks about her appearance.· a tactless question· I thought it would be tactless to ask about her divorce.
not being careful enough about something and treating it as though it is not important: · He seems to have a very casual attitude towards his work.· She disliked the casual way in which he made decisions affecting other people’s lives.
careless about something that you are responsible for, so that serious mistakes are made – used especially when someone will be officially punished for this: · The doctor was negligent in using the wrong type of needle.· They found him guilty of negligent conduct.
Longman Language Activatorcareless, so that you or other people are in danger not taking enough care in what you are doing because you do not think about the possible danger or risks: · Some careless idiot forgot to lock the door and the dog got out.· Pryce accused the other driver of being careless and negligent.
especially written someone who is reckless does dangerous or stupid things without thinking that they or someone else might get hurt: · The driver of the car was arrested for reckless driving.· a reckless disregard for human life
someone who is irresponsible does not do the things they should do, or does things they should not do, usually with harmful results: · Police blame higher crime rates on irresponsible parents who allow their teenage children to stay out all night.· Critics accused the governor of being irresponsible, and claimed that his new proposal would put thousands of US troops at risk.
when someone does not do an important job carefully enough, especially with the result that there is an accident and they are punished for causing it: · Dr. Atkins was found guilty of negligence and practising medicine without a license.· You can claim compensation if your injury is a result of your employer's negligence.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY When it comes to money, Dan is completely irresponsible.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
When it comes to money, Dan is completely irresponsible.· I had no money and she was being highly irresponsible.· This sect was and still is considered bizarre and highly irresponsible.
· He's fun, but totally irresponsible.· This action of Reg's was totally irresponsible on two counts.
WORD FAMILYnounresponsibility ≠ irresponsibilityadjectiveresponsible ≠ irresponsibleadverbresponsibly ≠ irresponsibly
doing careless things without thinking or worrying about the possible bad results OPP responsibletotally/highly/completely etc irresponsible When it comes to money, Dan is completely irresponsible.it is irresponsible (for somebody) to do something It would be irresponsible not to turn up for work without calling. It was highly irresponsible of him to leave the children on their own in the pool.► see thesaurus at careless—irresponsibly adverb: He was acting totally irresponsibly.—irresponsibility /ˌɪrɪspɒnsəˈbɪləti $ -spɑːn-/ noun [uncountable]- Declaration of Independence
- declarative
- declare
- declared
- declassified
- declassify
- declension
- decline
- Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, The
- declining
- declutter
- decode
- decoder
- decolonization
- decolonize
- decommission
- decompose
- decomposition
- decompress
- decompression
- decompression chamber
- decompression sickness
- decongestant
- deconstruct
- deconstruction