Negative Meaning
Negative Definition & Usage
Expressing or characterized by denial, disagreement, or opposition.
Examples
- "She gave a negative response to the proposal."
- "The negative feedback from the manager discouraged the team."
- "He always focuses on the negative aspects of every situation."
- "The negative effects of the new law became evident almost immediately."
- "I didn’t expect such a negative outcome from the meeting."
Less than zero; representing a decrease or loss.
Examples
- "The temperature dropped to a negative degree last night."
- "The stock prices showed a negative trend over the past week."
- "Her bank account had a negative balance after the withdrawal."
- "The negative charge on the atom is crucial for the chemical reaction."
- "Negative numbers are often used to represent deficits or losses."
A response, statement, or result that rejects, denies, or disagrees.
Examples
- "The survey results were a mix of both positives and negatives."
- "His answer was a clear negative to the invitation."
- "The doctor's diagnosis was a negative for any serious illness."
- "The negative of her argument was that the plan lacked detail."
- "In photography, a negative is a reversed image captured on film."
Cultural Context
The term 'negative' comes from Latin 'negativus', meaning 'to deny'. Over time, it has evolved to encompass various meanings across different domains such as emotional expression, mathematics, physics, and photography. In everyday speech, it's often used to describe pessimism or unfavorable conditions, while in more specialized contexts like science or business, it denotes an absence, reduction, or decline.
The Two Faces of Negative
Story
The Two Faces of Negative
Lena sat on the edge of the table, staring at the document in front of her. It was filled with what could only be described as negative feedback from her boss. She had poured hours into that project, and yet, here she was, faced with the harsh, critical comments that seemed to overshadow any positive aspects. It wasn’t the first time, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last, but she couldn’t help but feel deflated. Meanwhile, across town, Raj was looking at the same document from a completely different perspective. As a manager, he had learned to focus on the positives first, but this time, he couldn't ignore the negative points Lena’s team had missed. 'We’ll need to fix these issues before the deadline,' he thought to himself. Back in the office, Lena’s colleague, Mark, noticed her frustration. 'Don’t take it personally,' he advised, 'You know, sometimes the negative can actually help us grow. It’s a sign of things that need fixing.' Lena raised an eyebrow. 'It feels more like a sign that I’m not good enough,' she replied. As they discussed the feedback, they touched on both the emotional and technical aspects of what 'negative' meant. For Lena, it was about feeling defeated, but for Raj, it was about finding areas for improvement. And then, there was the idea of negative numbers in Raj’s own work with finances—an indication of loss but also an opportunity to adjust strategy. Lena smiled, realizing that her own view of 'negative' was too one-dimensional. In the world of finance, science, and even photography, negativity was simply a step in a larger process. 'I’ll make the changes,' she said, 'and turn this negative into something better.' That afternoon, as Lena walked past the photo studio, she stopped and looked at the negative film strips hanging to dry. The contrast between light and dark reminded her that, sometimes, even the negative could produce something beautiful. In the end, Lena realized that negativity wasn't just a setback—it was a part of life’s creative process, capable of sparking growth and transformation. She could change her approach to setbacks, learning to embrace the lessons within them.
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