negation

noun

ne·​ga·​tion ni-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce negation (audio)
1
a
: the action or logical operation of negating or making negative
b
: a negative statement, judgment, or doctrine
especially : a logical proposition formed by asserting the falsity of a given proposition see Truth Table
2
a
: something that is the absence of something actual : nonentity
b
: something considered the opposite of something regarded as positive
negational adjective

Examples of negation in a Sentence

issued specific negations of all of the charges against her a ruling by the Supreme Court that many regarded as a negation of the basic right of privacy
Recent Examples on the Web Scientists define net zero not just as the reduction of carbon emissions, but the removal of carbon from the atmosphere too—a complete negation of the greenhouse gases emitted by humanity. Stephen Armstrong, WIRED, 21 Feb. 2024 And so there’s already talk about how Democrats will apparently need to provide as many as 100 votes to participate in the great negation of their own accomplishments. Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 6 Oct. 2023 Based on public records, the schools are in negations to cancel the 2025 meeting at Memorial Stadium. Alexis Cubit, The Courier-Journal, 11 Sep. 2023 The government first acknowledged a colonial-era genocide in Namibia in 2021 after more than five years of negations between the two countries, and more than a century after German colonial troops killed at least 75,000 people in what was then known as South West Africa. Victoria Bisset, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2023 Or there is a darker, easier alternative—simply reject the problem, and retreat into naked negation by ignoring evidence and seeking to stymy those pointing out the urgency of the issue. David Robert Grimes, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2023 Had Logan meant to underline Kendall’s name for emphasis or cross it out in an act of negation? Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2023 The film’s arcane, nearly non-existent plot is mesmerizing in its near total negation of action, with long and disorienting shots held for inordinate stretches of time adding to the work’s atmospheric suffocation. Colin Scanlon, Redbook, 14 June 2023 One option is to add an extra layer of language processing to negation. Max G. Levy, Quanta Magazine, 12 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'negation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English negacioun "denial, negative assertion," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French negaciun, borrowed from Latin negātiōn-, negātiō "denial, refusal," from negāre "to deny, say no" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at negate

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of negation was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near negation

Cite this Entry

“Negation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/negation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

negation

noun
ne·​ga·​tion ni-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce negation (audio)
1
a
: the action of negating : denial
b
: a negative statement
2
: something that is the opposite of something positive
death is the negation of life

More from Merriam-Webster on negation

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