adjective / noun
negative
A value less than zero.
The temperature falls to a negative number.
Etymology
The word's association with denial and absence was applied to quantities on the opposite side of zero from positive numbers. Such numbers can represent deficits or subtraction.
More examples
- A negative multiplied by a negative gives a positive.
- The account displayed a negative balance.
- They compared positive and negative values.
Forms
negative · negatives
Similar words
- minus
- Marks subtraction or a value below zero; not every minus sign names a number.