# careless

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈkɛəlɪs/ · frequency rank #12,933

## Definitions
1. Not concerned or worried (about).
2. Not giving sufficient attention or thought, especially concerning the avoidance of harm or mistakes.
3. Free from care; unworried, without anxiety.

## Etymology
From Middle English careles, from Old English carlēas (“careless, reckless, void of care, free from care, free”), equivalent to care + -less. Cognate with Icelandic kærulaus (“careless, negligent”).

## Easily confused with
- **caress** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/careless-vs-caress)
- **clueless** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/careless-vs-clueless)
- **cordless** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/careless-vs-cordless)
- **ceaseless** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/careless-vs-ceaseless)
- **carelessly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/careless-vs-carelessly)

## Common misspellings (10)
`acreless`, `caerless`, `careelss`, `careles`, `carelless`, `carelses`, `carleess`, `carreless`, `ccareless`, `craeless`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/careless