1neg·a·tive 
/ˈnɛgətɪv/ adjective
/ˈnɛgətɪv/ adjective 1 [more negative; most negative] : 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 negative; most negative] : 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 negative; most negative] : 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
▪ 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
▪ 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
▪ 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]
▪ 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
▪ 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
▪ a negative charge/current — opposite positive
b : having more electrons than protons
▪ a negative particle — opposite positive
▪ a negative HIV test ▪ Her pregnancy test was negative. [=her test showed that she was not pregnant] — opposite positive
— neg·a·tive·ly adverb
▪ 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]
▪ 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]
