General
negatory
What does negatory mean?
'Negatory' is just 'no' dressed up in radio uniform. Came out of military comms where 'negative' was the standard 'no,' and CBers stretched it into something with more swagger. Now it's the kind of word you only say if you're either driving a rig, doing a bit, or being deliberately theatrical about turning something down.
"Negatory on that detour, the bridge is out two miles up."
Origin
Extension of military/aviation 'negative' (meaning no). Popularised by 1970s CB radio culture and cemented in pop culture by trucker films like Smokey and the Bandit and Convoy.
Frequently asked questions
What does Negatory mean?
It simply means 'no' — the CB radio way of saying it.
How do you use Negatory in a sentence?
"Any smokies up ahead? Negatory, road's clear."
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