Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Expressing denial, refusal, or contradiction: Used to indicate the absence, opposite, or negation of something.
   • Lacking positive or constructive qualities; pessimistic or harmful: Characterized by an absence of enthusiasm, hope, or advantage; often causing disadvantage or harm.
   • Less than zero; mathematically denoting a quantity below zero: Represented by a minus sign (-).
   • Of a result, test, or condition: indicating the absence of a specific substance, microorganism, or disease: Showing that a searched-for element is not present.
   • Of electrical charge: having the type of charge carried by electrons: Opposite to positive charge.

2. Noun:

   • A word, statement, or gesture expressing denial, refusal, or contradiction: A negative response or answer.
   • A photographic image on film or plate in which the light and dark areas are reversed, used for printing positives.
   • A negative quantity or result.

3. Verb:

   • To reject, refuse to endorse, or vote against: To formally oppose or deny approval.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective:

  • She gave a negative answer to the proposal. (She said no.)
  • He has a very negative attitude about his job. (His outlook is pessimistic.)
  • The temperature was negative ten degrees Celsius. (It was -10°C.)
  • The patient's test result was negative for the virus. (The virus was not detected.)
  • The balloon gained a negative charge after being rubbed. (It gained an electron charge.)

• Noun:

  • His reply was a firm negative. (His answer was "no.")
  • The photographer developed the negative to make prints. (The film with reversed tones.)

• Verb:

  • The committee negatived the motion. (The committee voted against the proposal.)

Advanced Usage

• In the negative: As a refusal or denial.

  • The question was answered in the negative. (The answer was "no.")

• Double negative: A grammatical construction using two negative words, which can be non-standard or used for emphasis (e.g., "I don't know nothing" is often considered incorrect in standard English, though it may be used in some dialects).

Variants and Related Words

• Negatively (adverb): In a negative manner.
  • She reacted negatively to the news.
• Negativity (noun): The expression of criticism or pessimism; the character of being negative.
  • There's too much negativity in the office.
• Negate (verb): To nullify, deny, or make ineffective.
  • The new evidence negated the old theory.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Adverse, pessimistic, unfavorable, denying, contradictory, minus.
• Noun: Denial, refusal, veto, "no".
• Verb: Reject, veto, deny, oppose.

Antonyms

• Adjective/Noun: Positive, affirmative, optimistic, favorable, plus.
• Verb: Approve, endorse, affirm.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Negative equity: A situation where the value of an asset (like a house) is less than the money borrowed to buy it.
• Negative feedback: Criticism or information about a process that is used to reduce its output or effect; also, unconstructive criticism.
• Negative income tax: A system where people earning below a certain amount receive supplemental pay from the government.
• Negative reinforcement (Psychology): The removal of an unpleasant stimulus to encourage a behavior. (Note: This is often confused with punishment, which is different.)

Adjective

1. involving disadvantage or harm
   • minus (or negative) factors
2. having a negative charge
   • electrons are negative
3. designed or tending to discredit, especially without positive or helpful suggestions
   • negative criticism
4. less than zero
   • a negative number
5. reckoned in a direction opposite to that regarded as positive
   • negative interest rates
6. not indicating the presence of microorganisms or disease or a specific condition
   • the HIV test was negative
7. having the quality of something harmful or unpleasant
   • ran a negative campaign
   • delinquents retarded by their negative outlook on life
8. expressing or consisting of a negation or refusal or denial
9. characterized by or displaying negation or denial or opposition or resistance; having no positive features
   • a negative outlook on life
   • a colorless negative personality
   • a negative evaluation
   • a negative reaction to an advertising campaign

Noun

1. a piece of photographic film showing an image with light and shade or colors reversed
2. a reply of denial
   • he answered in the negative

Verb

1. vote against; refuse to endorse; refuse to assent
   • The President vetoed the bill