negative
gb/nˈɛɡɪtɪv/ us/nˈɛɡɪtɪv/
A2
English
~ 2100
negatív, kedvezőtlen, nemleges, mínusz, filmnegatív, negatív eredmény, negatív teszteredmény
B1
1
negatív
B1
kedvezőtlen
B2
Usage pattern:
a negative [attitude/result/effect]
The report had a negative impact on the company's reputation.
A jelentés negatív hatással volt a cég hírnevére.
She tends to focus on the negative aspects of every situation.
Minden helyzetben hajlamos a negatívumokra koncentrálni.
Negative feedback can sometimes help you improve your work.
Too much sugar has a negative effect on your health.
His negative attitude made the meeting unpleasant.
Learner examples
The news was negative.
A hír kedvezőtlen volt.
He has a negative feeling about the plan.
Rossz érzése van a tervvel kapcsolatban.
Negative comments can hurt.
Smoking has a negative effect on health.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'negative' with 'neutral' when describing opinions; 'negative' means bad, not without opinion.
Meaning
unpleasant or harmful
Collocations
negative attitude
|negative effect
|negative feedback
|negative result
|negative impact
Synonyms
unfavorable (Slightly more formal; often used in reports or analysis.)
Antonyms
positive (Shows a good, desirable, or beneficial quality instead of a bad one.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Showing something bad or not wanted.
Expressing or containing an unfavorable, harmful, or undesirable quality, opinion, or effect.
A2
2
Usage pattern:
a negative [answer/response]
His answer to the proposal was negative.
A javaslatra adott válasza nemleges volt.
The test result came back negative for the virus.
A vírusteszt eredménye negatív lett.
She gave a negative reply to the invitation.
Learner examples
He gave a negative answer.
Nemleges választ adott.
The result was negative.
Az eredmény negatív lett.
Her reply was negative.
Meaning
showing absence or refusal
Collocations
negative answer
|negative response
|negative reply
Synonyms
denying (Focuses on refusing or saying no.)
Antonyms
affirmative (Means 'yes' or showing agreement.)
Themes
communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Showing 'no' or 'not true'.
Indicating the absence of something, denial, or rejection, often in contrast to an affirmative statement.
B1
TECHNICAL
3
Usage pattern:
a negative [number/temperature/balance]
The temperature dropped to negative five degrees Celsius.
A hőmérséklet mínusz öt Celsius-fokra esett.
Negative numbers are used to represent debt.
A negatív számokkal tartozást jelölnek.
The account has a negative balance.
Learner examples
It is a negative number.
Ez egy negatív szám.
The temperature is negative five.
Mínusz öt fok van.
My bank account is negative.
Meaning
less than zero in value
Collocations
negative number
|negative temperature
|negative balance
Synonyms
minus (Informal term for a number below zero.)
Antonyms
positive (A number greater than zero.)
Themes
science
|mathematics
|finance
Definition
Less than zero.
Having a value that is less than zero, as in mathematics, temperature, or finance.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
4
negatív
B2
filmnegatív
B2
She found an old film negative in the drawer.
Talált egy régi filmnegatívot a fiókban.
The photographer developed the negatives in his darkroom.
A fotós a sötétkamrájában hívta elő a negatívokat.
Negatives must be handled carefully to avoid scratches.
Learner examples
This is a film negative.
Ez egy filmnegatív.
He looks at the old negatives.
A régi negatívokat nézegeti.
They make prints from negatives.
Meaning
photographic image with reversed tones
Collocations
film negative
|develop a negative
Synonyms
film strip (Refers to the material but not necessarily the reversed image.)
Antonyms
print (The positive image made from a negative.)
Themes
photography
|technology
|arts_entertainment
Definition
A photo on film with light and dark switched.
A photographic image on film where light areas appear dark and dark areas appear light, used to produce prints.
NOUN
B1
TECHNICAL
5
The blood test was negative for infection.
A vérvizsgálat fertőzésre nézve negatív eredményt adott.
All COVID-19 tests returned negative results.
Az összes COVID-19-teszt negatív eredményt adott.
She was relieved when her pregnancy test was negative.
Learner examples
The test was negative.
A teszt negatív lett.
I got a negative result.
Negatív eredményt kaptam.
Her test came back negative.
Meaning
test result showing absence of something
Collocations
test came back negative
|receive a negative result
Synonyms
clear result (Informal way to say the test found nothing wrong.)
Antonyms
positive result (Indicates the condition or substance is present.)
Themes
healthcare
|health
|science
Definition
A test result that shows nothing is found.
A result from a test indicating that the condition, disease, or substance being tested for is not present.
Grammar
Dictionary form
negative
IPA
GB/nˈɛɡɪtɪv/
US/nˈɛɡɪtɪv/
Syllables & stress
neg - at - ive (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (neg)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: negative
Noun
- Base: negative
- Plural: negatives
Word family
Forms
negatives
noun
Core family
negatively
adverb B1
negativity
noun
Related words
negate
verb
negation
noun
Negative and opposite forms
positive
adjective B1
Expressions
come back negative
1/kˈʌm bˈæk nˈɛɡɪtɪv/
fixed phrase
test shows nothing found
When a test result shows there is nothing found (like no disease).
Examples
- The lab results came back negative.
- Luckily, the biopsy came back negative.
in a negative light
1/ˈɪn ə nˈɛɡɪtɪv lˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
seen as bad by others
Seen in a way that makes someone or something look bad.
Examples
- The scandal put the company in a negative light.
- Her comments painted him in a negative light.
test negative for [something]
1/tˈɛst nˈɛɡɪtɪv fɚ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
get a test result showing absence
To get a test result that shows you do not have something (like a disease).
Examples
- He tested negative for COVID-19 before traveling.
- All players tested negative for banned substances.