1. Of or relating to something bad; not positive (a negative attitude).
2. Of or relating to refusal of consent; not affirmative (a negative answer).
negative, n.
1. A word or phrase of denial or refusal (“no” and “not” are negatives).
2. A word expressing the opposite of the positive (two negatives and one positive).
3. The original plate of a photograph, on which light and shadows are the opposite of the positive images later created and printed ( not only the pictures, but also the negatives, were required to be returned).
4. Archaic. The power of veto (the king’s negative has eroded).
negative, vb. To negate; to deny, nullify, or render ineffective (the jury negatived fraud).
