nə̇ˈgāshən, nēˈ-, neˈ- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French negation, from Latin negation-, negatio, from negatus (past participle of negare to say no, deny, from neg- no, not, akin to ne- not) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at no
1.
a. : the action of negating : denial , contradiction
conformity is the very negation of the liberties enjoyed by a free society — New Republic
specifically : the operation of forming a negation
b. : an instance of negating : a negative doctrine or statement or proposition or judgment ; specifically : a statement that is true provided the unqualified original statement is false
c. : a negating particle (as not ) : negative
2.
a. : something that is merely the absence of something actual : something without real existence of its own : nonentity
anarchy is not law but its negation — B.N.Cardozo
b. : something considered the opposite of something regarded as positive
black is the negation of all color
• ne·ga·tion·al -shən ə l, -shnəl adjective