1. Expressing “no”

• That, I take it, was a negative answer.
• They received a negative answer to their request.
• The negative reply dashed her spirits.

2. Not expecting good things

• He’s so negative.
• He has a negative attitude toward life.
• She’s so negative about everything!
• Why does he have such a negative attitude?

3. Bad or harmful

• The industry suffered negative growth in 1998.
• The new tax was having a very negative effect on home sales.
• We didn’t think there would be an enormous negative effect.

4. (of a medical test) showing that the patient does not have the disease

• A negative test result.
• The results of the test were negative.
• All the patients have tested negative for AIDS

5. (of a number or amount) less than zero

• Negative numbers.
• The product of two negative numbers is positive.
• Students often find it mysterious why multiplying two negative numbers.

A word or statement that expresses “no”

• He replied in the negative.
• Her answer was in the negative.

Reject; refuse to accept; veto.

• The bill was negatived by 160 votes to 152.
• Motions had been made, discussed, negatived.