WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
in•ob•serv•ance
(in′əb zûr′vəns),USA pronunciation n.
in′ob•serv′ant, adj.
in′ob•serv′ant•ly, adv.
- lack of attention;
inattention;
heedlessness:drowsy inobservance. - failure to observe a custom, rule, law, or the like;
nonobservance:inobservance of the Sabbath.
- Latin inobservantia. See in-3, observance
- 1605–15
in′ob•serv′ant•ly, adv.