pozitivan

Pozitivan is an adjective used in several South Slavic languages, notably Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian, to denote something that is positive in value, quality, or outcome. It is used to describe attitudes, results, measurements, and characteristics, and it can function in scientific and mathematical contexts to indicate a positive value, such as a positive number. In medicine and public health, phrases like pozitivan nalaz or pozitivan test indicate a positive result for a disease or condition. In everyday language, the term appears in forms like pozitivan stav (positive attitude) or pozitivne vijesti (positive news), with the adjective agreeing in gender and number.

Etymology and form: poziti­van derives from the Latin positivus, via Latinized or vernacular adaptations in Slavic languages. It is cognate with the English “positive” and the French “positif.” In Slavic morphology it inflects for gender and number: pozitivan (masculine singular), pozitivna (feminine singular), pozitivno (neuter singular); pozitivni (masculine plural), pozitivne (feminine or mixed plural), pozitivna (neuter plural form is less common in everyday use).

Usage notes: Pozitivan is a neutral, standard term in formal and informal discourse. It contrasts with its opposite, negativan, used to denote something negative. The word is widely understood in contexts ranging from science and medicine to psychology and daily conversation, reflecting its broad semantic scope as describing positivity, correctness, or favorable conditions.