inattentive

/ɪnəˈtɛntɪv/

/ɪnəˈtɛntɪv/

Someone who's inattentive isn't paying enough attention. An inattentive lunch companion might spend the whole meal texting on his phone.

Inattentive people are sometimes distracted, like an inattentive babysitter who loses track of the kids he's watching at the playground. You can also be inattentive simply through indifference or boredom — if you're inattentive at the opera, you're not paying attention to it because you're not interested in it. Inattentive tacks the "not" prefix in- onto attentive, from the Latin root attendere, "give heed to" or "stretch toward."

Definitions of inattentive

1. adjective

   showing a lack of attention or care
   “inattentive students”

   “an inattentive babysitter”

   synonyms:

   absent, absentminded, abstracted, scatty

   lost in thought; showing preoccupation

   distracted, distrait

   having the attention diverted especially because of anxiety

   dreamy, moony, woolgathering

   showing a lack of attention or care

   drowsy, oscitant, yawning

   showing lack of attention or boredom

   forgetful, oblivious

   failing to keep in mind

   forgetful, oblivious

   failing to keep in mind

   careless

   marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful

   negligent

   characterized by neglect and undue lack of concern

   antonyms:

   attentive

   (often followed by `to') giving care or attention

   absorbed, captive, engrossed, enwrapped, intent, wrapped

   giving or marked by complete attention to

   advertent, heedful

   giving attention

   observant

   paying close attention especially to details

   oversolicitous

   excessively solicitous

   solicitous

   showing hovering attentiveness

   concerned

   feeling or showing worry or solicitude
2. adjective

   not showing due care or attention
   “inattentive students”

   “an inattentive babysitter”

   synonyms: neglectful

   negligent

   characterized by neglect and undue lack of concern