Oxford Essential Dictionary
adjective
1 bad or harmful:
The whole experience was definitely more positive than negative.
opposite positive
2 only thinking about the bad qualities of somebody or something:
If you go into the match with a negative attitude, you'll never win.
opposite positive
3 using words like 'no', 'not' and 'never':
'I don't like British food' is a negative sentence.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
negative
I. neg‧a‧tive1 S2 W2 AC /ˈneɡətɪv/ BrE AmE adjective
1. BAD harmful, unpleasant, or not wanted OPP positive:
My drinking was starting to have a negative effect on my work.
the negative aspects of ageing
On the negative side, it will cost a lot.
2. NOT LIKING SOMEBODY/SOMETHING considering only the bad qualities of a situation, person etc and not the good ones OPP positive:
students with a negative attitude to school
They have a uniformly negative image of the police.
Jean rarely sounded so negative about her mother.
3. NO/NOT
a) saying or meaning ‘no’
negative answer/reply/response
He gave a negative answer without any explanation.
b) containing one of the words ‘no’, ‘not’, ‘nothing’, ‘never’ etc OPP affirmative
4. SCIENTIFIC TEST not showing any sign of the chemical or medical condition that was being looked for OPP positive:
The pregnancy test was negative.
A person can be recently infected by HIV and have a negative result.
5. ELECTRICITY technical a negative ↑charge is carried by ↑electrons OPP positive
6. NUMBER/QUANTITY less than zero SYN minus OPP positive:
negative numbers
a negative return on our investment (=a loss)
7. BLOOD technical used in the names of blood types, meaning not having the ↑Rhesus factor OPP positive
—negatively adverb
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
negative
nega·tive AW [negative negatives] adjective, noun, verb [ˈneɡətɪv] [ˈneɡətɪv]
adjective
BAD
1. bad or harmful
• The crisis had a negative effect on trade.
• The whole experience was definitely more positive than negative.
Opp: positive
NOT HOPEFUL
2. considering only the bad side of sth/sb; lacking enthusiasm or hope
• Scientists have a fairly negative attitude to the theory.
• ‘He probably won't show up.’ ‘Don't be so negative.’
Opp: positive
NO
3. expressing the answer ‘no’
• His response was negative.
• They received a negative reply.
Opp: affirmative
GRAMMAR
4. containing a word such as ‘no’, ‘not’, ‘never’, etc
• a negative form/sentence
SCIENTIFIC TEST
5. (abbr. neg.) not showing any evidence of a particular substance or medical condition
• Her pregnancy test was negative.
Opp: positive
ELECTRICITY
6. (technical) containing or producing the type of electricity that is carried by an electron
• a negative charge/current
• the negative terminal of a battery
Opp: positive
NUMBER/QUANTITY
7. less than zero
• a negative trade balance
Opp: positive
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from late Latin negativus, from negare ‘deny’.
Thesaurus:
negative adj.
1.
• The crisis had a negative effect on trade.
damaging • • bad • • ill • • destructive • |formal harmful • • detrimental • • pernicious •
Opp: positive
a negative/damaging/bad/destructive/harmful/detrimental/pernicious effect /ill effects
a negative/damaging/bad/destructive/pernicious influence
negative/damaging/bad/harmful publicity
2.
• He's been rather negative about the idea.
pessimistic • • gloomy • • bleak • • dark • • depressing • • miserable • • black • |informal downbeat •
Opp: positive
negative/pessimistic/miserable about sth
a negative/pessimistic/gloomy/bleak outlook
negative/gloomy/dark/depressing/black thoughts
paint a negative/pessimistic/gloomy/bleak/depressing picture (of sb/sth)
Example Bank:
• He tested negative for HIV infection.
• He's been rather negative about the idea.
• Reaction to last night's attack was uniformly negative.
• She spoke in entirely negative terms.
• Some people have accused me of being overly negative.
• The antibody test proved negative.
• The urine tests were negative for protein.
• Their attitude was highly negative.
• the strongly negative implications of these survey results
• ‘He probably won't show up.’ ‘Don't be so negative.’
• I don't want to sound unduly negative, but I simply couldn't see the point.
• Negative side effects of the drug can occur and include drowsiness and headaches.
• Scientists have a fairly negative attitude to the theory.
• The whole experience was definitely more positive than negative.
• We try to pinpoint the cause of any negative feelings.
Derived Word: negatively
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
negative / ˈneɡ.ə.tɪv / / -t̬ɪv / adjective (NO)
B2 expressing "no":
We received a negative answer to our request.
→ Opposite affirmative
A2 A negative sentence or phrase is one that contains a word such as "not", "no", "never", or "nothing":
"I've never seen him in my life" is a negative sentence.
"Don't" and "do not" are negative forms of "do".
negatively / -li / adverb
negative / ˈneɡ.ə.tɪv / / -t̬ɪv / adjective (WITHOUT HOPE)
B1 not expecting good things, or likely to consider only the bad side of a situation:
a negative attitude
You're so negative about everything!
→ Compare positive (HOPEFUL)
negatively / -li / adverb
negative / ˈneɡ.ə.tɪv / / -t̬ɪv / adjective (BAD)
B2 bad or harmful:
The poor weather has had a very negative effect/impact on tourism.
negative / ˈneɡ.ə.tɪv / / -t̬ɪv / adjective (ELECTRICITY)
of the type of electrical charge that is carried by electrons
→ Opposite positive (ELECTRICITY)
negatively / -li / adverb
negative / ˈneɡ.ə.tɪv / / -t̬ɪv / adjective (TEST RESULTS)
(of a medical test) showing that the patient does not have the disease or condition for which he or she has been tested:
a negative pregnancy test
The results of his HIV test were negative.
→ Opposite positive (TEST RESULTS)
negative / ˈneɡ.ə.tɪv / / -t̬ɪv / adjective (BELOW ZERO)
(of a number or amount) less than zero:
negative numbers
→ Opposite positive (ABOVE ZERO)
negative / ˈneɡ.ə.tɪv / / -t̬ɪv / adjective (BLOOD TYPE)
not having the rhesus factor in the blood:
Her blood type is O negative.
→ Opposite positive (BLOOD TYPE)
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
negative
[ne̱gətɪv]
♦♦♦
negatives
1) ADJ-GRADED A fact, situation, or experience that is negative is unpleasant, depressing, or harmful.
The news from overseas is overwhelmingly negative...
All this had an extremely negative effect on the criminal justice system.
Ant:
positive
Derived words:
negatively ADV-GRADED ADV with v This will negatively affect the result over the first half of the year.
2) ADJ-GRADED If someone is negative or has a negative attitude, they consider only the bad aspects of a situation, rather than the good ones.
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?
Ant:
constructive
Derived words:
negatively ADV-GRADED usu ADV after v A few weeks later he said that maybe he viewed all his relationships rather negatively.
negativity [ne̱gətɪ̱vɪti] N-UNCOUNT I loathe negativity. I can't stand people who moan.
3) ADJ A negative reply or decision indicates the answer `no'.
Dr Velayati gave a vague but negative response...
Upon a negative decision, the applicant loses the protection offered by Belgian law...
The Tory response to that was negative.
Ant:
affirmative
Derived words:
negatively ADV ADV after v 60 percent of the sample answered negatively... Stein shook his head slowly, 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.
So far 57 have taken the test and all have been negative.
...negative test results.
Ant:
positive
7) 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.
8) ADJ A negative charge or current has the same electrical charge as an electron.
Stimulate the injury or site of greatest pain with a small negative current.
Ant:
positive
Derived words:
negatively ADV ADV -ed As these electrons are negatively charged they will attempt to repel each other.
9) ADJ: usu ADJ n A negative number, quantity, or measurement is less than zero.
Difficult texts record a positive score and simple ones score negative numbers.
Syn:
minus
10) PHRASE: PHR after v If an answer is in the negative, it is `no' or means `no'.
The Council answered those questions in the negative...
Seventy-nine voted in the affirmative, and none in the negative.
11) PHRASE: v-link PHR If a sentence is in the negative, it contains a word such as `not', `never', or `no-one'.
`I went' in the negative is `I did not go'.
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
1neg·a·tive /ˈnɛgətɪv/ adj
1 [more ~; most ~] : harmful or bad : not wanted
• Car exhaust has a negative effect/impact on the environment.
• the negative effects of the drug
• We had a very negative [=unpleasant] experience at the restaurant.
- opposite positive
2 [more ~; most ~] : thinking about the bad qualities of someone or something : thinking that a bad result will happen : not hopeful or optimistic
• She has a negative attitude about the new plan. [=she only thinks about the things that can go wrong with the new plan]
• Why do you have such a negative outlook on the merger? [=why do you think the merger won't work?]
• “I know we're going to lose.” “Don't be so negative.” [=pessimistic]
- opposite positive
3 a : expressing dislike or disapproval
• The reviews were mostly negative. [=unfavorable]
• The feedback about the new product was all negative.
• There are no negative feelings between us. [=we do not dislike each other]
- opposite positive
b : showing or talking about the bad qualities of someone or something
• The senator is running a negative campaign. [=a campaign that criticizes the other candidate instead of saying what good things the senator wants to do]
• negative advertising [=advertising that criticizes competitors]
4 [more ~; most ~] : expressing denial or refusal
• a negative reply/answer [=a reply of “no”]
• negative words like “no” and “not”
• “I didn't hear anything” is a negative phrase/construction/statement.
- opposite affirmative
5 a mathematics : less than zero
• My checking account has a negative balance.
• -2 is a negative number.
- opposite positive
b : less than the amount of money spent or invested
• We got a negative return on the investment. [=we lost money on the investment]
- opposite positive
6 technical
a : containing or producing electricity that is charged by an electron
• a negative charge/current
- opposite positive
b : having more electrons than protons
• a negative particle
- opposite positive
7 : not showing the presence of a particular germ, condition, or substance
• a negative HIV test
• Her pregnancy test was negative. [=her test showed that she was not pregnant]
- opposite positive
- neg·a·tive·ly adv
• a negatively charged particle
• The patient reacted negatively to the new drug. [=the patient had harmful side effects from the drug]
• Customers responded negatively to the new product. [=customers did not like the new product]