negative

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparable

   Expressing refusal, disagreement, disapproval, or the answer “no.”

   Grammar: Can describe answers, replies, votes, or attitudes: a negative response; not usually more negative in grammar comparisons.

   Patterns

   • a negative answer
   • negative about something
   • respond in the negative

   The answer was a clear negative response.

   She was negative about the new schedule.

   Three members voted no, so the proposal received a negative vote.

2. 2adjectivecomparable

   Bad, harmful, or lacking positive qualities or results.

   Grammar: Can take more/most in careful comparisons: a more negative effect; contrast positive for benefit or hope.

   Patterns

   • a negative effect
   • negative publicity
   • have a negative impact on something

   Lack of sleep has a negative effect on memory.

   The scandal created negative publicity for the company.

   Try not to focus only on negative thoughts.

3. 3adjectivenot comparablemathematicsphysicsmedical

   Less than zero, or showing that a measured substance, charge, or reaction is not present.

   Grammar: In math or tests it has fixed technical meanings: negative numbers, negative for a virus; compare minus as a sign word.

   Patterns

   • a negative number
   • test negative for something
   • a negative charge

   Five degrees below zero is a negative temperature.

   The test was negative for flu.

   Electrons carry a negative charge.

4. 4nouncountabletechnical

   A photographic image in which light and dark areas are reversed, used to make prints.

   Grammar: Countable in photography; a negative becomes a positive print.

   Patterns

   • develop a negative
   • a film negative
   • print from a negative

   The photographer still keeps the film negatives.

   We scanned the old negatives to make digital copies.

5. 5nouncountablemedical

   A result from a medical or scientific test showing that something was not found.

   Grammar: Often in the plural for repeated results; the opposite is a positive.

   Patterns

   • receive a negative
   • test came back negative
   • a false negative

   Her test came back negative.

   The clinic reported two negatives and one positive.

   A false negative can miss an infection.

Common combinations

negative attitude

A negative attitude can slow a team down.

negative impact

The noise had a negative impact on sleep.

negative number

A negative number is below zero on the number line.

test negative for

He tested negative for the virus.

Synonyms and how they differ

pessimistic

Pessimistic expects bad outcomes; negative can describe any disapproval or absence, not only outlook.

adverse

Adverse means harmful, especially effects or conditions; negative is broader.

minus

Minus describes a value below zero or the sign; negative is the usual adjective in math phrases.

Opposites

Word family

negatively adverb

In a harmful or disapproving way.

negativity noun

The habit or quality of focusing on bad things.

negate verb

To deny, cancel, or make something ineffective.

Commonly confused: negative or positive?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “negative”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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