Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

benign-neglect

noun

/bɪˈnaɪn nɪˈɡlɛkt/

Definition

A policy or attitude of ignoring a situation or problem with the belief that it will resolve itself without interference.

Examples

Many believe that the government’s policy of benign neglect towards education has resulted in a decline in school standards.
She took a benign neglect approach to her child’s schooling, trusting that he would learn what he needed on his own.

Meaning

Benign neglect refers to the practice of allowing people, groups, or institutions to develop without interference, often with the assumption that these entities will manage their own affairs successfully.