The inattentive driver failed to notice the traffic signal change, causing a minor collision.
注意力不集中的司机未能注意到交通信号变化，导致轻微碰撞。
Which choice best defines “inattentive”?
D — Not paying attention. “inattentive” means not paying attention.
Which word means “not paying attention”?
C — inattentive. “inattentive” means not paying attention.
inattentive — not paying attention. In Chinese: 不注意的.
inattentive is pronounced /ˌɪnəˈtɛntɪv/.
The inattentive driver failed to notice the traffic signal change, causing a minor collision. (注意力不集中的司机未能注意到交通信号变化，导致轻微碰撞。)
distracted, negligent, careless — all close in meaning to inattentive (not paying attention).
attentive, alert — each the opposite of inattentive (not paying attention).
Yes. inattentive is on the SAT Prep Basic list — the everyday academic words the SAT assumes you already have. The Digital SAT does not test vocabulary in isolation; words like this one are tested through Words in Context questions, where you choose the word that completes a passage most logically and precisely.