negative
NEHG-uh-tihv
Negative (adj) means expressing disapproval, pessimism, or something undesirable. Example: “Her negative comments made everyone in the meeting feel discouraged.”
adj
1
Expressing disapproval, pessimism, or something undesirable.
"Her negative comments made everyone in the meeting feel discouraged."
"The reviews were overwhelmingly negative."
"Try not to be so negative about the plan before you've even tried it."
2
Below zero, or showing that a test did not detect what it was checking for.
"The thermometer showed negative five, so we wrapped up warmly."
"The temperature dropped to negative ten overnight."
"Her COVID test came back negative."
noun
1
An unfavourable point, or (in photography) an image with reversed colours/tones.
"Hold the negative up to the light to see the reversed image."
"The main negative of this flat is the lack of storage."
"One negative of the new office is the long commute."
How to use negative
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe opposite of positive — bad, unwanted, below zero, or a "no" result.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
negative impact
negative attitude
test negative
negative number
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Word forms
- Plural
- negatives
- Third person singular
- negatives
- Past tense
- negatived
- Comparative
- more negative
- Superlative
- most negative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her _____ comments made everyone in the meeting feel discouraged.
Etymology
From Latin negativus, "that denies," from negare, "to deny" — the root behind negate.
Synonyms
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pessimistic
gloomy
downbeat
critical
cynical
disapproving
adverse
disconfirming
minus
damaging
electronegative
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for negative
See all rhymes for negative →Frequently asked questions
What does “negative” mean?
The word “negative” means expressing disapproval, pessimism, or something undesirable. In plain terms, the opposite of positive — bad, unwanted, below zero, or a "no" result.
How do you pronounce “negative”?
“Negative” is pronounced NEHG-uh-tihv (/ˈnɛɡ.ə.tɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “negative” in a sentence?
Here is “negative” used in a sentence: “The reviews were overwhelmingly negative.”
What is the opposite of “negative”?
The opposite of “negative” — its antonyms — are positive and affirmative.
What part of speech is “negative”?
Depending on how it is used, “negative” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “negative” come from?
The word “negative” comes from Latin. From Latin negativus, "that denies," from negare, "to deny" — the root behind negate.
Is “negative” a common word?
“Negative” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “negative” have?
“Negative” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: expressing disapproval, pessimism, or something undesirable.
What is the difference between 'negative' and 'negligent'?
The words sound alike but mean different things. 'Negative' describes an attitude or outlook — expressing disapproval, pessimism, or something undesirable. 'Negligent' means failing to take proper care, being careless about a duty. A negative person complains; a negligent person neglects. Only the first is about mood or opinion.
Is 'negative' always a bad thing?
Not always. As an attitude, 'negative' usually signals pessimism or disapproval, which is unwelcome. But in other fields it is neutral or even good news — a negative medical test means no disease was found, and in maths or electricity 'negative' simply denotes a sign or direction, with no judgement attached.
What is the opposite of 'negative'?
The opposite of 'negative' is 'positive' — expressing approval, optimism, or something desirable. A positive attitude looks on the bright side, where a negative one dwells on problems. Depending on context, 'upbeat', 'favourable', and 'encouraging' also work well as opposites of a negative outlook.
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