noun
careless person; thoughtless person; scatterbrain
Refers to a person who is habitually careless, inattentive, or prone to making thoughtless mistakes. Often used in a mildly critical or self-deprecating way.
彼は粗忽者で、よく待ち合わせの時間を間違える。
He is a careless person and often gets the meeting time wrong.
自分は粗忽
I'm a scatterbrain, so I make sure to put important documents away right away.
Also means 'careless person', but うっかり者 emphasizes absent-mindedness or making mistakes due to inattention, whereas 粗忽者 can imply a broader lack of thoughtfulness or consideration.
Composed of 粗忽 (そこつ, 'carelessness' or 'thoughtlessness') and 者 (もの, 'person'). 粗忽 is a Sino-Japanese word (kango) combining 粗 (coarse, rough) and 忽 (neglect, disregard). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the compound has been used since the Edo period to describe a person prone to careless mistakes.