A fact, situation, or experience that is negative is unpleasant, depressing, or harmful.
The news from overseas is overwhelmingly negative.
All this had an extremely negative effect on the criminal justice system.
negativelyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
This will negatively affect the result over the first half of the year.
2. adjective
If someone is negative or has a negative attitude, they consider only the bad aspects of a situation, rather than the good ones.
When asked for your views about your current job, on no account must you be negativeabout it.
Why does the media present such a negative view of this splendid city?
negativelyadverb [usually ADVERB after verb]
A few weeks later he said that maybe he viewed all his relationships rather negatively.
negativity (negətɪvɪti)uncountable noun
I loathe negativity. I can't stand people who moan.
Synonyms: contradictoriness, opposition, resistance, refusal More Synonyms of negative
Synonyms: pessimism, cynicism, unwillingness, antagonism More Synonyms of negative
3. adjective
A negative reply or decision indicates the answer 'no'.
Dr Velayati gave a vague but negative response.
Upon a negative decision, the applicant loses the protection offered by Belgian law.
The Tory response to that was negative.
Synonyms: dissenting, contradictory, refusing, denying More Synonyms of negative
negativelyadverb [ADVERB after verb]
60 percent of the sample answered negatively.
Stein shook his head slowly, negatively.
4. countable noun
A negative is a word, expression, or gesture that means 'no' or 'not'.
In the past we have heard only negatives when it came to following a healthy diet.
5. adjective
In grammar, a negative clause contains a word such as 'not', 'never', or 'no-one'.
6. adjective
If a medical test or scientific test is negative, it shows no evidence of the medical condition or substance that you are looking for.
So far 57 have taken the test and all have been negative.
...negative test results.
7. HIV negative
8. countable noun
In photography, a negative is an image that shows dark areas as light and light areas as dark. Negatives aremade from a camera film, and are used to print photographs.
9. adjective
A negative charge or current has the same electrical charge as an electron.
Stimulate the site of greatest pain with a small negative current.
negativelyadverb [ADVERB -ed]
As these electrons are negatively charged, they will attempt to repel each other.
10. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A negative number, quantity, or measurement is less than zero.
The weakest students can end up with a negative score.
11.
See in the negative
12.
See in the negative
More Synonyms of negative
English Easy Learning GrammarAdverbs and adverbialsWhen you want to add information about how, when, where, or to what extent somethinghas happened, you can use an adverbial. Many adverbials are members ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarDare and needThe two verbs dare and need have characteristics of both modal verbs and main verbs.Because of this, they are called semi-modals. They sometimes behave ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarWord order in negative statementsIn negative statements, the basic word order for subject and object is the same asin positive statements. John has gone to school. John has not gone to ... Read more
negative in British English
(ˈnɛɡətɪv)
adjective
1.
expressing or meaning a refusal or denial
a negative answer
2.
lacking positive or affirmative qualities, such as enthusiasm, interest, or optimism
3.
showing or tending towards opposition or resistance
4.
a.
measured in a direction opposite to that regarded as positive
b.
having the same magnitude but opposite sense to an equivalent positive quantity
5. biology
indicating movement or growth away from a particular stimulus
negative geotropism
6. medicine
(of the results of a diagnostic test) indicating absence of the disease or condition for which the test was made
7. another word for minus (sense 3b), minus (sense 5)
8. physics
a.
(of an electric charge) having the same polarity as the charge of an electron
b.
(of a body, system, ion, etc) having a negative electric charge; having an excess of electrons
c.
(of a point in an electric circuit) having a lower electrical potential than some other point with an assigned zero potential
9. short for electronegative
10.
of or relating to a photographic negative
11. logic
(of a categorial proposition) denying the satisfaction by the subject of the predicate, as in some men are irrational; no pigs have wings
12. astrology
of, relating to, or governed by the signs of the zodiac of the earth and water classifications, which are thought to be associated with a receptive passive nature
13. short for Rh negative
noun
14.
a statement or act of denial, refusal, or negation
15.
a negative person or thing
16. photography
a piece of photographic film or a plate, previously exposed and developed, showing an image that, in black-and-white photography, has a reversal of tones. In colour photography the image is in complementary colours to the subject so that blue sky appears yellow, green grass appears purple, etc
17. physics
a negative object, such as a terminal or a plate in a voltaic cell
18.
a sentence or other linguistic element with a negative meaning, as the English word not
19.
a quantity less than zero or a quantity to be subtracted
20. logic
a negative proposition
21. archaic
the right of veto
22. in the negative
sentence substitute
23. (esp in military communications) a signal code word for no1
verb(transitive)
24.
to deny or nullify; negate
25.
to show to be false; disprove
26.
to refuse to consent to or approve of
the proposal was negatived
Compare positive, affirmative
Derived forms
negatively (ˈnegatively)
adverb
negativeness (ˈnegativeness) or negativity (ˌnegaˈtivity)
noun
negative in American English
(ˈnɛgətɪv)
adjective
1.
containing, expressing, or implying a denial or refusal; that says “no”
a negative reply
2.
opposite to something regarded as positive
; specif.,
a.
lacking in positive character or quality
b.
lacking evidence, affirmation, etc.
c.
having the effect of diminishing, depriving, or denying
d.
faultfinding, antagonistic, destructive, etc.
negative criticism, a negative political campaign
3. Biology
directed away from the source of a stimulus
negative tropism
4. US, Electricity
a.
of, generating, or charged with negative electricity
b.
having an excess of electrons
5. Logic
denying something about a subject
“no reptiles are warmblooded” is a negative proposition
6. Ancient Mathematics
designating a quantity less than zero, or one to be subtracted; minus quantity
7. Medicine
not having or not demonstrating, showing, or proving the presence or existence of a condition, infection, symptoms, bacteria, etc.
a patient who is negative for TB; the X-rays were negative
8. Photography
reversing the relation of light and shade of the subject
adverb, interjection
9.
no; not so
so used in radio communication
noun
10.
a word, affix, phrase, etc. that denies, rejects, or refuses (Ex.: no, not, by no means)
11.
a statement of denial, refusal, or rejection
12.
the point of view that denies or attacks the positive or affirmative
the negative won the debate
13.
an undesirable element or quality; drawback, shortcoming, defect, etc.
14.
an impression of something, as a sculpture, that shows it in reverse
15. Obsolete
the right of veto
16. Electricity
a terminal, electrode, or plate having an excess of electrons flowing out toward a positive terminal, electrode, or plate, as in a storage battery or dry cell
17. Ancient Mathematics
a quantity less than zero, or one to be subtracted; minus quantity
18. Photography
an exposed and developed photographic film or plate on which light and shadow are the reverse of what they are in the positive printed from this
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈnegatived or ˈnegativing
19.
a.
to refuse; reject
b. US
to veto (a candidate, motion, or bill)
20.
to deny; contradict
21.
to prove false; disprove
22.
to counteract; neutralize
interjection
23.
no! not so!
Idioms:
in the negative
Derived forms
negatively (ˈnegatively)
adverb
negativeness (ˈnegativeness)
noun or ˌnegaˈtivity
Word origin
ME negatife < OFr or L: OFr négatif < L negativus < negatus: see negation
Examples of 'negative' in a sentence
negative
This has a significant negative impact on the pace at which men age.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You can easily set up a check for positive or negative social media sentiment.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Two thirds reported negative feelings and half said they were not emotionally ready to be a parent.
The Sun (2016)
But missing out on sleep is likely to have a negative effect on your waistline.
The Sun (2016)
Open your heart to let negative thoughts float away and a new phase can begin.
The Sun (2016)
Do the positives of including a player with match-winning ability outweigh the potential negatives?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A third group was asked to simply recall a negative experience without making a lesson from it.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
You don't want to get negative about it, you need to prove that your life is good.
The Sun (2016)
Answers in the negative are not necessarily an indictment of the police, just as they are not necessarily proof of the accused's innocence.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The possibility of such a false negative test must be taken in context.
Pantano, James A. (MD) Living with Angina (1991)
You find yourself with a negative attitude and an underlying sense of hopelessness.
Christianity Today (2000)
This means you buy a slide film and process it as a negative film.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You realise what a negative impact we are having on the environment.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This means that each new task is positive rather than negative.
Atkinson, Jacqueline M Coping with Stress at Work (1988)
Would he be a positive or a negative?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
There is one potential negative in the near term.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Due to their double bonds they possess negative electrical charges.
Erdmann, Robert & Jones, Meirion Fats, Nutrition and Health (1991)
This is not how the majority of homebuyers in negative equity behaved in the last downturn.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They were getting very negative publicity from hanging on to me.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Would it have a negative effect on them?
The Sun (2013)
Yet the only way we can answer those negative thoughts is on the pitch.
The Sun (2012)
Yet that does not tally with the negative blood tests taken in the first surveillance zone.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He says he does not look back on anything in his life in a negative light.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
With most of the industry in negative territory, that is impressive.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Each negative first half would settle together with each positive second half, a perfect match.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He leaves an archive of 60,000 negatives and 20,000 prints.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
negative
British English: negative /ˈnɛɡətɪv/ ADJECTIVE
A fact, situation, or experience that is negative is unpleasant, depressing, or harmful.
The news is not all negative.
American English: negative
Arabic: سَلْبِيٌّ
Brazilian Portuguese: negativo
Chinese: 负面的
Croatian: negativan
Czech: negativní
Danish: negativ
Dutch: negatief
European Spanish: negativo
Finnish: negatiivinen
French: négatif pas positif
German: negativ
Greek: αρνητικός
Italian: negativo
Japanese: 否定の
Korean: 부정적인
Norwegian: negativ
Polish: negatywny
European Portuguese: negativo
Romanian: negativ
Russian: негативный
Latin American Spanish: negativo opuesto a positivo
Swedish: negativ
Thai: ที่เป็นด้านลบ
Turkish: olumsuz
Ukrainian: негативний
Vietnamese: tiêu cực
British English: negative /ˈnɛɡətɪv/ NOUN
A negative is a word, expression, or gesture that means `no' or `not'.
He uses five negatives in fifty-three words.
American English: negative
Arabic: سَلبِيٌّ
Brazilian Portuguese: negativo
Chinese: 否定词 语言
Croatian: niječnica
Czech: zápor
Danish: negativ
Dutch: ontkenning
European Spanish: negación
Finnish: kieltävä vastaus
French: négation photo
German: Negativ
Greek: αρνητικό
Italian: negativo
Japanese: 否定の答え
Korean: 부정적인 말(태도)
Norwegian: negativ
Polish: przeczenie
European Portuguese: negativo
Romanian: negație
Russian: негативный ответ
Latin American Spanish: negación
Swedish: nekande
Thai: คำปฏิเสธ
Turkish: olumsuz
Ukrainian: заперечення
Vietnamese: lời từ chối
Chinese translation of 'negative'
negative
(ˈnɛɡətɪv)
adj
[effect, news]负(負)面的 (fùmiàn de)
[test, result]阴(陰)性的 (yīnxìng de)
(= gloomy)[person, attitude, view]消极的 (xiāojí de)
(= not affirmative)[answer, response]否定的 (fǒudìng de)
(Elec)[charge, current]负(負)极(極)的 (fùjí de)
(Math) 负(負)的 (fù de)
n(c)
(Phot) 底片 (dǐpiàn) (张(張), zhāng)
(Ling) 否定词(詞) (fǒudìngcí) (个(個), gè)
why do you have to be so negative about everything?你怎么(麼)对(對)什么(麼)都这(這)么(麼)消极(極)呢? (nǐ zěnme duì shénme dōu zhème xiāojí ne?)
to answer in the negative作否定的回答 (zuò fǒudìng de huídá)
1 (adjective)
Definition
measured in a direction opposite to that regarded as positive
This will have a very serious negative effect on economic recovery.
Synonyms
neutralizing
invalidating
annulling
nullifying
counteractive
2 (adjective)
Definition
lacking positive qualities, such as enthusiasm or optimism
There's no point in going along to an interview with a negative attitude.
Synonyms
pessimistic
his excessively pessimistic view of life
cynical
My experiences have made me cynical about politics.
unwilling
gloomy
He is gloomy about the fate of the economy.
antagonistic
jaundiced
The two writers share a jaundiced vision of modern Britain.
uncooperative
contrary
Opposites
positive
,
optimistic
,
enthusiastic
,
cheerful
3 (adjective)
Definition
expressing a refusal or denial
Dr. Velayati gave a vague but negative response.
Synonyms
dissenting
contradictory
refusing
denying
rejecting
opposing
I have a friend who holds the opposing view.
resisting
contrary
Opposites
positive
,
approving
,
affirmative
,
concurring
,
assenting
(noun)
Definition
a statement or act of denial or refusal
We were fobbed off with a crisp negative.
Synonyms
denial
the denial of visas to international workers
no
My answer to that is an emphatic no.
refusal
a refusal of planning permission
rejection
his rejection of our values
contradiction
What he does is a contradiction of what he says.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of contradiction
What he does is a contradiction of what he says.
Synonyms
negation,
opposite,
denial,
antithesis
in the sense of cynical
Definition
believing that people always act selfishly
My experiences have made me cynical about politics.
Synonyms
unbelieving,
sceptical,
disillusioned,
pessimistic,
disbelieving,
mistrustful
in the sense of gloomy
Definition
despairing or sad
He is gloomy about the fate of the economy.
Synonyms
miserable,
down,
sad,
dismal,
low,
blue,
pessimistic,
melancholy,
glum,
dejected,
despondent,
dispirited,
downcast,
joyless,
downhearted,
down in the dumps (informal),
cheerless,
down in the mouth,
in low spirits,
chapfallen,
moody,
sullen,
morose,
crestfallen,
saturnine
Synonyms of 'negative'
negative
Explore 'negative' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of jaundiced
Definition
having jaundice
The two writers share a jaundiced vision of modern Britain.