negative
//ˈnɛɡ.ə.tɪv//
formalForms
- Comparative
- more negative
- Superlative
- most negative
- Plural
- negatives
Definitions
1.Not positive or neutral; bad; undesirable; unfavourable.
- Customers didn’t like it: feedback was mostly negative.
- The high exchange rate will have a negative effect on our profits.
2.Of a number: less than zero.
- I was out in negative weather today.
3.Of a test result: not positive, not detected.
- Tom is always so negative about everything.
4.Of electrical charge of an electron and related particles
- Tom is always so negative about everything.
1.Refusal or withholding of assents; prohibition, veto
2.An unfavorable point or characteristic.
3.A right of veto.
- And as to the Constitutionality of laws, that point will come before the Judges in their proper official character. In this character they have a negative on the laws.
4.An image in which dark areas represent light ones, and the converse.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #1483
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Common
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Etymology
From Middle English negative, negatif
From Old French negatif
From Latin negātīvus (“that denies, negative”)
From negāre (“to deny”); see negate.