irresponsible

Everyday

1. Irresponsible means not thinking about the results of what you do, or not taking care of things you should look after. tree →
2. An irresponsible action is careless and may put people or things in danger. tree →

In the lessons

In safety and PSHE lessons it describes risky choices: leaving a toddler near a pool, playing with matches, sharing passwords. In stories a character's irresponsible act often causes the problem the plot must fix. Phrases: «it was irresponsible of you to», «totally irresponsible», «irresponsible behaviour».

Examples

• It was irresponsible to leave the gate open, because the dog ran out. tree →
• Riding a bike without a helmet on a busy road is irresponsible. tree →
• The irresponsible campers left their fire burning. tree →
• «That was very irresponsible of you,» said Mum. tree →
• It is irresponsible to share your password with strangers. tree →
• The pet owner was irresponsible and forgot to feed the fish. tree →
• Driving too fast near a school is irresponsible. tree →

Note

Prefix «ir-» before «r» means «not»: irregular, irrelevant, irresponsible (double «r»). Ends in «-ible», not «-able». Opposite: «responsible». The noun is «irresponsibility».