Negative Meaning
/ˈnɛɡ.ə.tɪv/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjNot positive or neutral; bad; undesirable; unfavourable.
adjOf a number: less than zero.
Sentence Examples
Some people argue that technology has negative effects.
Debate is an academic game between the affirmative and the negative.
The crisis had a negative effect on trade.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Her ____ attitude ruined the party, she always complained about everything.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Having a ____ attitude can make it very difficult to solve complex problems.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English negative, negatif, from Old French negatif, from Latin negātīvus (“that denies, negative”), from negāre (“to deny”); see negate.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Negative feelings can be worked through and their energy converted into positive energy... In crisis, normal patterns of self-organization fail, resulting in anxiety (negative energy)."
— 2009, Christopher Johns, Becoming a Reflective Practitioner, John Wiley & Sons, page 15:
"If you have been badly affected by negative energy a salt bath is wonderful for clearing and cleansing yourself... Salt attracts negative energy and will draw it away from you."
— 2011, Anne Jones, Healing Negative Energies, Hachette, page 118:
"The negative contact we get inside here [prison] is enough to make you even more bitter and further alienated from society and ourselves."
— 1982 August 14, Renee Holmes, “Personal advertisement”, in Gay Community News, volume 10, number 5, page 15:
"The hell? I wish I could follow you on that, but it makes negative sense."
— 2002 September 7, Jef, “MST3K DVD Collection One”, in rec.arts.tv.mst3k.misc (Usenet):
"“Upon my word, I can’t eat a morsel,” answered the lady […] There is indeed in perfect beauty a power which none almost can withstand; for my landlady, though she was not pleased at the negative given to the supper, declared she had never seen so lovely a creature."
— 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Her ____ attitude ruined the party, she always complained about everything.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Having a ____ attitude can make it very difficult to solve complex problems.