negative

1 of 2

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 2) 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

negativeness

2 of 2

noun

neg·​a·​tive·​ness

plural -es

: negativity

Synonyms of negative

Adjective

• hostile
• adverse
• unfavorable

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Some in the union remain bitter about negative campaigning that led to Zimmer’s loss and consider Melvoin too pro-charter. —Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026

Washington can play at least a small role in reversing negative health trends by providing services to those who may otherwise be unable to afford and access health care or food. —Sam Raus, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 May 2026

Read this edition of AI Prognosis, which explains why scientific literature needs more negative and non-significant results. —O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 29 May 2026

And about one in five Black women with breast cancer are diagnosed with hard-to-treat triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), more than any other racial or ethnic group. —Ayren Jackson-Cannady, SELF, 29 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

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

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Phrases Containing negative

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

Rhymes for negative

• electronegative
• seronegative

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