1 negation | Definition of negation

negation

noun
ne·​ga·​tion | \ ni-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce negation (audio) \

Definition of negation

1a : the action or logical operation of negating or making negative
b : a negative statement, judgment, or doctrine especially : a logical proposition formed by asserting the falsity of a given proposition — see Truth Table
2a : something that is the absence of something actual : nonentity
b : something considered the opposite of something regarded as positive

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Other Words from negation

negational \ ni-​ˈgā-​shnəl How to pronounce negational (audio) , -​shə-​nᵊl \ adjective

Examples of negation in a Sentence

issued specific negations of all of the charges against her a ruling by the Supreme Court that many regarded as a negation of the basic right of privacy

Recent Examples on the Web

His staged, performative actions, carried out for both still and film cameras, enlist gravity as a tool of self-negation, concealment and potential harm. Leah Ollman, latimes.com, "Bas Jan Ader disappeared at sea at age 33. His art still haunts," 5 July 2019 The fascist negation of religious truths, by which all political choices are to be judged, has found countless disciples in progressive circles. Joseph Loconte, National Review, "Mussolini and the End of Liberal Democracy," 25 June 2019 Now it’s been traded for polysyllabic corporatese, a negation (de-) of an abstraction (centralize). Gregory Barber, WIRED, "Angry Nerd: Come On! We Can't 'Decentralize' Everything!," 24 June 2019 Today roughly 7 to 10 percent of Ecuador’s population is of African descent, and these people face discrimination and marginalization following centuries of negation, humiliation and erasure. Charles David Kleymeyer, Smithsonian, "Meet Juan García Salazar, the Man Who Championed Black Identity in Ecuador," 14 June 2019 Since there is generally much circumstantial evidence pointing to its truth, the negation is seen as most unlikely. Quanta Magazine, "The Subtle Art of the Mathematical Conjecture," 7 May 2019 Efforts to curb opioid abuse, regulation changes to senior care facilities amid reports of rampant abuse, conformity to the federal tax overhaul, funding public schools and securing schools are at the forefront of negations. Washington Post, "Minnesota lawmakers’ work on long to-do list with time short," 19 May 2018 The negations were reportedly centered around preventing a second trial that Manafort faces next month on similar charges. Benjamin Brown, Fox News, "Paul Manafort discussed plea deal to forestall second set of charges: report," 28 Aug. 2018 The result felt less like an homage than a radical modernist reappraisal of the Bachian ethos — deconstruction carried to negation. John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Bella Voce looks back on its storied past, Bach Week projects spirit of its namesake forward," 29 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'negation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of negation

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for negation

Middle English negacioun "denial, negative assertion," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French negaciun, borrowed from Latin negātiōn-, negātiō "denial, refusal," from negāre "to deny, say no" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at negate

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More from Merriam-Webster on negation

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with negation

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for negation

Spanish Central: Translation of negation

Nglish: Translation of negation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of negation for Arabic Speakers