negative

I UK [ˈneɡətɪv] / US adjective ***

1) expressing disagreement or criticism

a negative response

a negative opinion of her qualifications

a) expressing opposition to something, especially when there is a choice

His answer was negative.

b) linguistics a negative form or word expresses "no" or "not", for example "don't" or "won't"

2) harmful, or bad

The ad campaign actually had a negative impact on sales.

I hope the divorce won't have a negative effect on the children.

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Collocations:
Nouns frequently used with negative
▪  aspect, consequence, effect, impact

3) giving more attention or emphasis to bad possibilities than good ones

a negative attitude towards women

The article presents a rather negative view of professional sports.

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Collocations:
Nouns frequently used with negative
▪  attitude, connotation. emotion, image, stereotype, view

4) showing that a particular condition, disease, or substance is not present

Her pregnancy test was negative.

She's remained HIV negative for years.

He tested negative for drugs and alcohol.

5) physics with the same electrical charge as an electron

6) maths a negative number or amount is less than zero

Derived word:
negatively
adverb
II UK [ˈneɡətɪv] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "negative":
singular negative plural negatives
*

1) an image on film in which dark things appear light, and light things appear dark

2) linguistics a word or expression that means "no"

3) something that is harmful or bad

She couldn't see any negatives in the deal.

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- in the negative

III UK [ˈneɡətɪv] / US verb [transitive]
Word forms "negative":
present tense I/you/we/they negative he/she/it negatives present participle negativing past tense negatived past participle negatived formal

1) to refuse to accept something such as a question or idea

2) to prove that a theory or statement is false