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   negative

   /ˈnɛɡətɪv/

   adjective

   • 1. consisting in or characterized by the absence rather than the presence of distinguishing features.
   • ▪ expressing or implying denial, disagreement, or refusal: "that, I take it, was a negative answer" Similar saying ‘no’in the negativerejectingrefusingdissentingdissentientcontraryanti-opposingopposeddenyingformal:gainsayingrare:dissentiousOpposite positiveaffirmative
   • ▪ (of the results of a test or experiment) indicating that a certain substance or condition is not present or does not exist: "a negative test result"
   • ▪ (of a person) not having a specified condition or showing traces of a specified substance in their body: "all the patients have tested negative for TB"
   • ▪ denoting a complete lack of something: informal US "they were described as having negative vulnerability to water entry"
   • ▪ (of a word, clause, or proposition) stating that something is not the case; expressing negation.
   • ▪ no (usually used in a military context): "‘Any snags, Captain?’ ‘Negative, she's running like clockwork.’"
   • 2. (of a person, attitude, or situation) not desirable or optimistic: "the new tax was having a negative effect on car sales" Similar pessimisticdefeatistgloomygloom-riddencynicalbleakfatalisticdismissiveantiantipatheticuncooperativeobstructiveunenthusiasticcoolcolduninterestedunresponsiveapatheticharmfulbadadversedamagingdetrimentalunfortunateunfavourabledisadvantageousOpposite positiveoptimisticconstructiveenthusiasticfavourablegood
   • 3. (of a quantity) less than zero.
   • ▪ denoting decrease or reversal: "the industry suffered negative growth in the 1990s"
   • 4. containing, producing, or denoting the kind of electric charge carried by electrons.
   • 5. (of a photographic image) showing light and shade or colours reversed from those of the original.
   • 6. relating to or denoting any of the earth or water signs, considered passive in nature.
   • 7. (in Parliament) relating to or denoting proposed legislation which will come into force after a specified period unless explicitly rejected in a parliamentary vote. British

   noun

   • 1. a word or statement that expresses denial, disagreement, or refusal: "she replied in the negative"
   • ▪ a bad or unwelcome quality or aspect of a situation: "confidence will not be instilled by harping solely on the negative"
   • ▪ a word, affix, or phrase expressing negation.
   • ▪ another term for negation
   • 2. a negative photographic image made on film or specially prepared glass, from which positive prints may be made: "photographs and negatives should be supplied for enlargement purposes"
   • 3. a result of a test or experiment indicating that a certain substance or condition is not present or does not exist: "the percentage of false negatives generated by a cancer test was of great concern"
   • 4. the part of an electric circuit that is at a lower electrical potential than another part designated as having zero electrical potential.
   • 5. a number less than zero.

   verb

   • 1. refuse to accept; reject: "the bill was negatived on second reading by 130 votes to 129" Similar rejectturn downsay ‘no’ torefusevetosquashinformal:give the thumbs down togive the red light toOpposite acceptratifypass
   • ▪ prove to be untrue: "the insurer's main arguments were negatived by Lawrence" Similar disproveshow/prove to be falsegive the lie tobelieinvalidatecall into questionrefuterebutdiscreditexplodecontradictdenynegateformal:gainsayOpposite provesubstantiate
   • 2. render ineffective; neutralize: "should criminal law allow consent to negative what would otherwise be a crime?" Similar cancel outneutralizecounteractnullifynegaterender ineffectiveoffsetbalancecounterbalancebalance outequalize

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

   Derivatives

   • 1. negativeness noun

   Scrabble Points: 12

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