Translate negative | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish Definition of negative
adjective
1consisting in or characterized by the absence rather than the presence of distinguishing features. (of a statement or decision) expressing or implying denial, disagreement, or refusal:that, I take it, was a negative answer (of the results of a test or experiment) indicating that a certain substance is not present or a certain condition does not exist:so far all the patients have tested negative for TB [in combination] (of a person or their blood) not having a specified substance or condition:HIV-negative informal denoting a complete lack of something:they were described as having negative vulnerability to water entry Grammar &
Logic (of a word, clause, or proposition) expressing denial, negation, or refutation; stating or asserting that something is not the case. Contrasted with affirmative and interrogative.
2(of a person, attitude, or situation) not desirable or optimistic:the new tax was having a very negative effect on car sales not all the news is negative I don’t want to be negative, but I don’t see how we could do it
3(of a quantity) less than zero; to be subtracted from others or from zero. denoting a direction of decrease or reversal:the industry suffered negative growth in 1992
4of, containing, producing, or denoting the kind of electric charge carried by electrons.
5(of a photographic image) showing light and shade or colors reversed from those of the original.
6 Astrology relating to or denoting any of the earth or water signs, considered passive in nature.
noun
1a word or statement that expresses denial, disagreement, or refusal:she replied in the negative (often
the negative)
a bad, unwelcome, or unpleasant quality, characteristic, or aspect of a situation or person:confidence will not be instilled by harping solely on the negative the bus trip and the positive media have not had time to turn his significant negatives around Grammar a word, affix, or phrase expressing negation.
2a photographic image made on film or specially prepared glass that shows the light and shade or color values reversed from the original, and from which positive prints can be made.
3a result of a test or experiment indicating that a certain substance is not present or a certain condition does not exist:the percentage of false negatives generated by a cancer test was of great concern
4the part of an electric circuit that is at a lower electrical potential than another part designated as having zero electrical potential.
5a number less than zero.
exclamation
no (usually used in a military context):“Any snags, Captain?” “Negative, she’s running like clockwork.”
verb
[with object] 1reject; refuse to accept; veto:the bill was negatived by 130 votes to 129 disprove; contradict:the insurer’s main arguments were negatived by Lawrence
2render ineffective; neutralize:should criminal law allow consent to negative what would otherwise be a crime?
