negative ( negatives plural )
1 adj A fact, situation, or experience that is negative is unpleasant, depressing, or harmful., (Antonym: positive)
The news from overseas is overwhelmingly negative..., All this had an extremely negative effect on the criminal justice system.
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negatively adv ADV with v
This will negatively affect the result over the first half of the year.
2 adj If someone is negative or has a negative attitude, they consider only the bad aspects of a situation, rather than the good ones., (Antonym: positive)
When asked for your views about your current job, on no account must you be negative about it..., Why does the media present such a negative view of this splendid city?
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negatively adv usu ADV after v
A few weeks later he said that maybe he viewed all his relationships rather negatively.
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negativity n-uncount
I loathe negativity. I can't stand people who moan.
3 adj A negative reply or decision indicates the answer `no'., (Antonym: affirmative)
Dr Velayati gave a vague but negative response..., Upon a negative decision, the applicant loses the protection offered by Belgian law...
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negatively adv ADV after v
60 percent of the sample answered negatively...
4 n-count 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 adj In grammar, a negative clause contains a word such as `not', `never', or `no-one'.
6 adj If a medical test or scientific test is negative, it shows no evidence of the medical condition or substance that you are looking for., (Antonym: positive)
So far 57 have taken the test and all have been negative., ...negative test results.
8 n-count In photography, a negative is an image that shows dark areas as light and light areas as dark. Negatives are made from a camera film, and are used to print photographs.
9 adj A negative charge or current has the same electrical charge as an electron., (Antonym: positive)
Stimulate the site of greatest pain with a small negative current.
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negatively adv ADV -ed
As these electrons are negatively charged they will attempt to repel each other.
10 adj A negative number, quantity, or measurement is less than zero.
usu ADJ n
(=minus)
The weakest students can end up with a negative score.
11 If an answer is in the negative, it is `no' or means `no'. ♦
in the negative phrase PHR after v Seventy-nine voted in the affirmative, and none in the negative.
negative equity
If someone who has borrowed money to buy a house or flat has negative equity, the amount of money they owe is greater than the present value of their home.
(BRIT, BUSINESS) n-uncount