Negative

Negative is a term used across language, science, mathematics, and art to denote denial, opposition, or subtraction, among other meanings. Its etymology traces to Latin negativus, from negare, to deny.

In mathematics, a negative number is any number less than zero, written with a leading minus sign, such as -3 or -0.5. Negative numbers extend the integer and real number systems and are used to model debts, losses, or decreases. Arithmetic with negatives follows standard rules: the product of two negatives is positive, a negative and a positive yield a negative, and so on.

In science, negative charge is carried by electrons, and negative ions are atoms that have gained extra electrons. Negative feedback is a regulatory mechanism that reduces deviations from a target condition, helping stabilize systems in biology, engineering, and climate models. In photography, a negative is an image with inverted luminance values that is typically used to produce a positive print.

In language and logic, negation expresses the denial or absence of a proposition, using words like not or no, or prefixes such as un- to form opposites. In logic, the negation operator flips the truth value of statements.

In design and art, negative space refers to the area around and between subjects, which can define shapes and balance composition. In everyday usage, a negative result indicates the absence of the property tested, such as a medical test indicating no detectable illness.