Meaning of positive in English

1. Pronunciation

   /ˈpɑzədɪv/

   US accent

   How to pronounce positive in American English, in context ▾
   Use the controls below to browse different examples of pronunciation.

   UK accent

   How to pronounce positive in British English, in context ▾
   Use the controls below to browse different examples of pronunciation.

1. Classifying Adjective

   positive

   Definitions

   1. involving advantage or good

   Examples

   • « a plus (or positive) factor »

   Synonyms

   • advantageous
2. 2. formally laid down or imposed

   Examples

   • « positive laws »

   Synonyms

   • formal
3. 3. impossible to deny or disprove

   Examples

   • « incontrovertible proof of the defendant's innocence »
   • « proof positive »
   • « an irrefutable argument »

   Synonyms

   • undeniable
4. 4. greater than zero

   Examples

   • « positive numbers »

   Synonyms

   • plus
5. 5. marked by excessive confidence

   Examples

   • « an arrogant and cocksure materialist »
   • « so overconfident and impudent as to speak to the queen »
   • « the less he knows the more positive he gets »

   Synonyms

   • confident
6. 6. granting what has been desired or requested

   Examples

   • « a favorable reply »
   • « a positive answer »

   Synonyms

   • affirmative
   • affirmatory

7. Noun

   positive

   Definitions

   1. a film showing a photographic image whose tones correspond to those of the original subject

8. Qualitative Adjective

   positive

   Etymology

   late Middle English: from Old French positif, -ive or Latin positivus, from posit-‘placed’, from the verb ponere. The original sense referred to laws as being formally ‘laid down’, which gave rise to the sense ‘explicitly laid down and admitting no question’, hence ‘certain’

   Definitions

   1. characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.

   Examples

   • « a positive attitude »
   • « the reviews were all positive »
   • « a positive benefit »
   • « a positive demand »

   Synonyms

   • affirmative
   • optimistic
   • constructive

   Antonyms

   • negative
   • neutral
9. 2. having a positive electric charge

   Examples

   • « protons are positive »

   Antonyms

   • negative
   • electronegative
   • neutral
   • electroneutral
10. 3. indicating existence or presence of a suspected condition or pathogen

    Examples

    • « a positive pregnancy test »

    Antonyms

    • negative
    • disconfirming
11. 4. of or relating to positivism

    Examples

    • « positivist thinkers »
    • « positivist doctrine »
    • « positive philosophy »