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
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
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 2b) 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
1
3
a
: an expression (such as the word no) of negation or denial
b
: a negative number
4
: the side that upholds the contradictory proposition in a debate
5
: a negative photographic image on transparent material used for printing positive pictures
also
: the material that carries such an image
6
: a reverse impression taken from a piece of sculpture or ceramics
7
: a negative result (as of a test)
a high rate of false negatives
also
: a test yielding such a result
negatived; negativing
1
a
: to refuse assent to
b
: to reject by or as if by a vote
2
: to demonstrate the falsity of
3
: to deny the truth, reality, or validity of
4
Synonyms
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.
Noun
“No” and “not” are negatives.
Can I have the negatives to make copies of the photos?
Verb
although the rebuttal was very eloquent, the jury negatived it in favor of the prosecution's argument
we promptly negatived the idea of having pizza again for dinner, noting that we had already had it for three nights that week
Recent Examples on the Web
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Rubber Leaf had a negative working capital of $12,730,616 as of September 30, 2024.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 5 Nov. 2024
The contest has narrowed as Baldwin’s spending edge against Hovde has withered, the advertising wars have intensified, and GOP ads against Baldwin appear to have driven up her negatives.
—Craig Gilbert, Journal Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2024
Dallas News, 7 Feb. 2022
Regardless, the outcome of this trial might not impact the ex-couple’s career prospects in all that negative a way, Engelmayer predicted.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 26 May 2022
See all Example Sentences for negative 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
Kimberly Clausing, a former Treasury Department official in the Biden administration and a UCLA professor of tax law, said the GOP will probably overestimate the revenue from tariffs and ignore the negative economic impact of the duties.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Rubber Leaf had a negative working capital of $12,730,616 as of September 30, 2024.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
Kodak Mobile Film Scanner Amazon 10 Kodak Mobile Film Scanner
$35
Amazon
$35
Nordstrom
The family archivist will appreciate this handy little gadget, which scans old negatives and saves them straight to your giftee’s iPhone or Android.
—Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 5 Nov. 2024
The contest has narrowed as Baldwin’s spending edge against Hovde has withered, the advertising wars have intensified, and GOP ads against Baldwin appear to have driven up her negatives.
—Craig Gilbert, Journal Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
Travelers also need to negative COVID-19 test within one day of flying to return to the United States.
—Dallas News, 7 Feb. 2022
Regardless, the outcome of this trial might not impact the ex-couple’s career prospects in all that negative a way, Engelmayer predicted.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 26 May 2022
See all Example Sentences for negative
Dictionary Entries Near negative
Cite this Entry
“Negative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/negative. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
negative
2 of 3 noun1
: 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
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