negation

noun

ne·​ga·​tion ni-ˈgā-shən 

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

ni-ˈgā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• denial
• rejection

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

Absurdly, our call, an active exercise of our right to freedom of expression, was met with mockery, boycotts, and negation; violence on the part of our fellow citizens and deafening silence from our colleagues. —Uriel Kon september 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025

The French psychiatrist Jules Cotard described this delusional disorder in 1880 and initially named it the delusion of negation (this classification has subsequently been generally referred to via his last name). —Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025

Their robust negations appeared to put both them and their American hosts on the right side of history, compared with writers in the unfree world of authoritarian regimes, who seemed to have been permanently tainted by lies, equivocations, and evasions. —Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025

As the character confronts the reality of his own negation by the same hero who activated his insecurities, Hoult’s face is a mask hiding what lies beneath: a black hole of anguish mirroring the black holes that almost swallowed Superman. —Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 16 July 2025

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

Rhymes for negation

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

Kids Definition

negation

noun

ne·​ga·​tion ni-ˈgā-shən 

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