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• neg
  neg

  noun

  a photographic negative.
• neg.
  neg.

  abbreviation

  negative.
• NEG
  NEG

  abbreviation

  negative

neg

¹ American  

[neg] / nɛg /

noun

1. Informal. a photographic negative.

2. Slang. a backhanded compliment, especially one used when flirting.

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verb (used with object)

1. Slang. to imply that (someone or something) is not good enough; to insult with a backhanded compliment or with qualified approval, especially as a ploy to lower the self-esteem of a person or cheapen an object before showing romantic interest or making an offer.

   He negged me for my weight while insisting that curvy ladies can be sexy too.

neg. ² American  

abbreviation

1. negative.

2. negatively.

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NEG ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. negative

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neg. ² British  

abbreviation

1. negative(ly)

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Etymology

Origin of neg

First recorded in 1870–75; shortening of negative ( def. )

Example Sentences

It’s another example of the quality coaching from Neg Kopooshian, who had a 21-1 team three seasons ago.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2024

It was created by collective of four artists Laku Neg.

From BBC • Aug. 1, 2022

The banana plantation that gave Mr. Moïse his political nickname — Neg Bannann, or Banana Man — is just outside town.

From New York Times • Jul. 16, 2021

“It’s profitable, absolutely,” says LSA President Neg Norton.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 17, 2016

My brother Neg Freeman came to pay his respects to me and to invite me to a bed in his house; but I was fixed before, and therefore thanked him and excused myself.

From Familiar Letters of John Adams and His Wife Abigail Adams During the Revolution with a Memoir of Mrs. Adams by Adams, Abigail