negative

1 of 3

adjective

neg·​a·​tive ˈne-gə-tiv 

1

a

: marked by denial, prohibition, or refusal

received a negative answer

also : marked by absence, withholding, or removal of something positive

the negative motivation of shame

—Garrett Hardin

b(1)

: denying a predicate (see predicate entry 1 sense 1a) of a subject or a part of a subject

"no A is B" is a negative proposition

(2)

: denoting the absence or the contradictory of something

nontoxic is a negative term

(3)

: expressing negation

negative particles such as no and not

c

: adverse, unfavorable

the reviews were mostly negative

2

a

: lacking positive qualities

especially : disagreeable

a colorless negative personality

b

: marked by features of hostility, withdrawal, or pessimism (see pessimism sense 1) that hinder or oppose constructive treatment or development

a negative outlook

negative criticism

c

: promoting a person or cause by criticizing or attacking the competition

ran a negative campaign

negative advertising

3

a(1)

: less than zero and opposite in sign to a positive (see positive entry 1 sense 4e) number that when added to the given number yields zero

−2 is a negative number

(2)

: having more outgo than income : constituting a loss

negative cash flow

negative worth

b

: extending or generated in a direction opposite to an arbitrarily chosen regular direction or position

negative angle

4

a

: being, relating to, or charged with electricity of which the electron is the elementary unit

b

: having more electrons than protons

a negative ion

c(1)

: having lower electric potential (see potential entry 1 sense 2b) and constituting the part toward which the current (see current entry 2 sense 3) flows from the external circuit

the negative pole

(2)

: being the electron-emitting electrode (see electrode sense 2) of an electron tube

5

a

: not affirming the presence of a condition, substance, or organism suspected to be present

also : having a test result indicating the absence especially of a condition, substance, or organism

she is HIV negative

b

: directed or moving away from a source of stimulation

negative tropism

c

: less than the pressure of the atmosphere

negative pressure

6

: having the light and dark parts in approximately inverse (see inverse entry 1 sense 1) relation to those of the original photographic subject

7

of a lens : diverging (see diverge sense 1) light rays and forming a virtual inverted image

negatively adverb

negativeness noun

negativity

ˌne-gə-ˈti-və-tē 

noun

negative

2 of 3

noun

1

a(1)

: a reply that indicates the withholding of assent : refusal

(2)

archaic : a right of veto

(3)

obsolete : an adverse vote : veto

b

: a proposition which denies or contradicts another

especially : the one of a pair of propositions in which negation is expressed

2

a

: something that is the opposite or negation of something else

b

: drawback, liability

3

a

: an expression (such as the word no) of negation or denial

b

: a negative number

4

: the side that upholds the contradictory proposition in a debate

5

: a negative photographic image on transparent material used for printing positive pictures

also : the material that carries such an image

6

: a reverse impression taken from a piece of sculpture or ceramics

7

: a negative result (as of a test)

a high rate of false negatives

also : a test yielding such a result

negative

3 of 3

verb

negatived; negativing

transitive verb

1

a

: to refuse assent to

b

: to reject by or as if by a vote

2

: to demonstrate the falsity of

3

: to deny the truth, reality, or validity of

4

: neutralize, counteract

Phrases

in the negative

: with a negative reply : with a reply that means "no"

He answered in the negative.

Synonyms

Adjective

• adversarial
• adversary
• antagonistic
• antipathetic
• hostile
• inhospitable
• inimical
• jaundiced
• mortal
• unfriendly
• unsympathetic

Noun

• nay
• no
• non placet

Verb

• blackball
• down
• kill
• nix
• shoot down
• veto

Examples of negative in a Sentence

Adjective

Car exhaust has a negative effect on the environment.

the negative effects of the drug

The feedback about the new product was all negative.

Noun

“No” and “not” are negatives.

Can I have the negatives to make copies of the photos?

Verb

although the rebuttal was very eloquent, the jury negatived it in favor of the prosecution's argument

we promptly negatived the idea of having pizza again for dinner, noting that we had already had it for three nights that week

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Six of the women had a range of negative reactions to the ruling, including disgust, sadness and anger. —Rey Covarrubias Jr., The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024

Some studies showed that girls were particularly affected by negative body self-image. —Journal Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2024

The impact of the campaign probably exceeded expectations, as negative news travels fast and people seem to enjoy commiserating in their contempt. —Kyle Bowser, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024

Hall began by asking the model whether she’s been seeing negative remarks about her body on social media. —Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 11 Apr. 2024

But the levels are not high enough to warrant a selloff in the absence of a negative catalyst, a team at the firm led by Thatte wrote in a note. —Sagarika Jaisinghani, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024

Last month, Japan brought an end to its era of negative interest rates with its first rate hike in 17 years, marking a historic shift away from an aggressive monetary easing program that was implemented years ago to fight chronic deflation. — CNN’s Mayumi Maruyama contributed reporting. —Junko Ogura, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024

Of the four terms, autocrat carries the least negative connotation, though it’s still widely considered undesirable. —Hazlitt, 10 Apr. 2024

Seattle-area Boeing employees and retirees have long complained about the negative cultural impact of the 1997 merger with McDonnell Douglas. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024

Noun

But in most Israelis’ minds, these leaders’ positive legacies outweigh the negatives. —Anshel Pfeffer, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2024

Guaranteed departures are net negatives that will grow with any incumbent losses at the primary or general election stage. —Kelly Dittmar, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

Leiter, who died in 2013, is now recognized as one of the great color photographers of the 20th century, a pioneer who embraced — and experimented with — color slide film when most professional photographers were still wedded to monochrome negatives. —Christian House, CNN, 22 Feb. 2024

The kind of things photographers do now with editing software, photographers did then by messing with negatives. —Karla Adam, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024

But losing TikTok would be a net negative for the industry, in the opinion of Wedbush Securities tech analyst Daniel Ives. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 18 Mar. 2024

The downside revealed in commercial real estate market For all the advantages of a healthier, more rested and more flexible workforce — including making life easier for working mothers — there are some potential negatives as well. —Tom Saler, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024

Many tech businesses have developed a subscription model over the past decade that comes with both positives and negatives. —Matt Novak / Gizmodo, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024

There are famous stories of people cutting negatives in the old days the day before the movie was released. —Tyler Coates, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 2024

Verb

Travelers also need to negative COVID-19 test within one day of flying to return to the United States. —Dallas News, 7 Feb. 2022

Regardless, the outcome of this trial might not impact the ex-couple’s career prospects in all that negative a way, Engelmayer predicted. —Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 26 May 2022

On the way to scoring a 25-19, 25-9, 25-4 victory, UW was not blocked once, held the Bobcats to negative hitting in each set and in the final set tied a program record for fewest points allowed in a set. —Mark Stewart, Journal Sentinel, 2 Dec. 2022

And passengers boarding international flights to the U.S. no longer need to test negative a day before departure or prove recovery from Covid in the past 90 days. —Allison Pohle, WSJ, 2 Aug. 2022

But with sales growth expected to go from triple digits in 2021 to negative this year, shares have tanked to a record low recently. —Yueqi Yang, Time, 20 Apr. 2022

In response, Moody’s Investors Service recently lowered its outlook for the sector to negative. —Nick Sargen, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2021

Eversource Energy executives are on the defensive after two ratings agencies cut the credit outlook to negative for Connecticut Light & Power, citing its run-ins with state regulators over the utility’s response to Tropical Storm Isaias last year. —Stephen Singer, courant.com, 2 Aug. 2021

Positive antibody test results, which are by no means an absolute guarantee of immunity, will be accepted to enter, as will negative COVID-19 tests taken up to seven days prior to arrival. —Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English negatyff, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French negatif, borrowed from Latin negātīvus "(of legal actions) restraining, (of words) denying," from negātus (past participle of negāre "to say no, deny") + -īvus -ive

Noun

Middle English negatif "negative command, prohibition," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French negative, borrowed from Late Latin negātīva "negative command or statement," from feminine of Latin negātīvus "(of legal actions) restraining, (of words) denying" — more at negative entry 1

Verb

derivative of negative entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1571, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1706, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing negative

• false negative
• gram-negative
• negative equity
• negative income tax
• negative feedback
• negative sign
• Rh-negative
• negative transfer
• double negative
• in the negative

Kids Definition

negative

1 of 3 adjective

neg·​a·​tive ˈneg-ət-iv 

1

: marked by denial, prohibition, or refusal

a negative reply

2

: not positive or helpful

a negative attitude

3

a

: less than zero and opposite in sign to a positive number

-2 is a negative number

b

: extending or measured in a direction opposite to one chosen as positive

a negative angle

4

a

: of, being, or relating to electricity of a kind of which the electron is the elementary unit

a negative charge

b

: having more electrons than protons

a negative particle

c

: being the part toward which the electric current flows from the outside circuit

the negative pole of a battery

5

a

: not indicating the presence of a particular germ or condition

a negative TB test

b

: directed or moving away from a source of stimulation

a negative tropism

6

: having the light and dark parts approximately opposite to those of the thing or person photographed

negatively adverb

negativeness noun

negativity

ˌneg-ə-ˈtiv-ət-ē 

noun

negative

2 of 3 noun

1

: a reply that indicates denial or contradiction : refusal

2

: something that is the opposite or negation of something else

3

: an expression (as the word no) of negation or denial

4

: a negative number

5

: the side that argues or votes against something in a debate

6

: a negative photographic image on transparent material used for printing positive pictures

also : the material that carries such an image

negative

3 of 3 verb

negatived; negativing

1

: to refuse to accept or approve

2

: to vote against

3

: deny sense 1, contradict

Medical Definition

negative

1 of 2 adjective

neg·​a·​tive

ˈneg-ət-iv

1

: marked by denial, prohibition, or refusal

received a negative answer

2

: marked by features (as hostility, withdrawal, or pessimism) that hinder or oppose constructive treatment or development

a negative outlook

3

a

: being, relating to, or charged with electricity of which the electron is the elementary unit

b

: having more electrons than protons

negative ions

c(1)

: having lower electrical potential and constituting the part toward which the current flows from the external circuit

the negative pole

(2)

: being the electron-emitting electrode of an electron tube

4

a

: not affirming the presence of a condition, substance, or organism suspected to be present

also : having a test result indicating the absence especially of a condition, substance, or organism

she is HIV negative

b

: directed or moving away from a source of stimulation

negative tropism

5

: having the light and dark parts in approximately inverse relation to those of the original photographic subject

negatively adverb

negative

2 of 2 noun

1

: a negative photographic image on transparent material used for printing positive pictures

also : the material that carries such an image

2

: a negative result (as of a test)

also : a test yielding such a result