negative

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   involving disadvantage or harm

   minus (or negative) factors

2. 2
   adj

   having a negative charge

   electrons are negative

3. 3
   adj

   designed or tending to discredit, especially without positive or helpful suggestions

   negative criticism

4. 4
   adj

   having the quality of something harmful or unpleasant

   ran a negative campaign

5. 5
   adj

   less than zero

   a negative number

6. 6
   adj

   reckoned in a direction opposite to that regarded as positive

   negative interest rates

7. 7
   adj

   not indicating the presence of microorganisms or disease or a specific condition

   the HIV test was negative

8. 8
   noun

   a reply of denial

   They answered in the negative.

Etymology

From Middle English negative, negatif, from Old French negatif, from Latin negātīvus (“that denies, negative”), from negāre (“to deny”); see negate.