n. 1 the absence or opposite of something actual or positive. 2 a the act of denying. b an instance of this. 3 (usu. foll. by of) a refusal, contradiction, or denial. 4 a negative statement or doctrine. 5 a negative or unreal thing; a nonentity. 6 Logic the assertion that a certain proposition is false. negatory adj.
[ F negation or L negatio (as NEGATE) ]