Meaning of negative in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Definitions
  3. Classifying Adjective
    1. Definitions
  4. Noun
    1. Definitions
  5. Qualitative Adjective
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈnɛɡədɪv/

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  1. Verb

    negative

    Definitions

    1. vote against

    Examples

    • « refuse to endorse »
    • « refuse to assent »
    • « The President vetoed the bill »

    Derived terms

  2. Classifying Adjective

    negative

    Definitions

    1. reckoned in a direction opposite to that regarded as positive

    Synonyms

  3. 2. having the quality of something harmful or unpleasant

    Examples

    • « ran a negative campaign »
    • « delinquents retarded by their negative outlook on life »

    Synonyms

  4. 3. less than zero

    Examples

    • « a negative number »

    Synonyms

  5. 4. designed or tending to discredit, especially without positive or helpful suggestions

    Examples

    • « negative criticism »

    Synonyms

  6. 5. involving disadvantage or harm

    Examples

    • « minus (or negative) factors »

    Synonyms

  7. Noun

    negative

    Definitions

    1. a reply of denial

    Examples

    • « he answered in the negative »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  8. 2. a piece of photographic film showing an image with black and white tones reversed

  9. Qualitative Adjective

    negative

    Etymology

    late Middle English: from late Latin negativus, from negare‘deny’ (see negate)

    Definitions

    1. characterized by or displaying negation or denial or opposition or resistance

    Examples

    • « having no positive features »
    • « a negative outlook on life »
    • « a colorless negative personality »
    • « a negative evaluation »
    • « a negative reaction to an advertising campaign »

    Synonyms

    Antonyms

  10. 2. having a negative electric charge

    Examples

    • « electrons are negative »

    Antonyms

  11. 3. expressing or consisting of a negation or refusal or denial

    Synonyms

    Antonyms

  12. 4. not indicating the presence of microorganisms or disease or a specific condition

    Examples

    • « the HIV test was negative »

    Antonyms

Famous quotes

  • « The word power has such a generally negative implication in our society. What are people talking about? Are they talking about muscles, or control? »
    James Hillman
  • « You should tell yourself frequently 'I will only react to constructive suggestions.' This gives you positive ammunition against your own negative thoughts and those of others. »
    Jane Roberts
  • « My attitude to peace is rather based on the Burmese definition of peace - it really means removing all the negative factors that destroy peace in this world. So peace does not mean just putting an end to violence or to war, but to all other factors that threaten peace, such as discrimination, such as inequality, poverty. »
    Aung San Suu Kyi
  • « This also turned out to be negative, so there is no material in the Central Intelligence Agency, either in the records or in the mind of any of the individuals, that there was any contact had or even contemplated with him. »
    Richard M. Helms
  • « It is important to expect nothing, to take every experience, including the negative ones, as merely steps on the path, and to proceed. »
    Ram Dass

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