negate

American  

[ni-geyt, neg-eyt] / nɪˈgeɪt, ˈnɛg eɪt /

verb (used with object)

negated, negating

1. to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of.

   an investigation tending to negate any supernatural influences.

2. to nullify or cause to be ineffective.

   Progress on the study has been negated by the lack of funds.

---

verb (used without object)

negated, negating

1. to be negative; bring or cause negative results.

   a pessimism that always negates.

negate British  

/ nɪˈɡeɪt /

verb

1. to make ineffective or void; nullify; invalidate

2. to deny or contradict

---

Other Word Forms

• negater noun
• negator noun
• renegate verb (used with object)
• self-negating adjective
• unnegated adjective

Etymology

Origin of negate

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin negātus “denied,” past participle of negāre “to deny, refuse,” from neg-, variant of nec “not”; see neglect

Explanation

If something neutralizes the effect of something else, then you can say the effect is negated. Hanging a disco ball from your living room ceiling negates the sleek modern effect created by the contemporary furniture. If something is proved false or untrue, it has been negated. The discovery of one dinosaur jaw negated the conventional wisdom that all dinosaurs were vegetarians, since the tooth structure proved that guy definitely ate meat. The verb negate can also mean to counteract or counterbalance — so a really strong serve can negate your other weaknesses on the tennis court.

Example Sentences

I have been disturbed to see how seriously many of my patients have taken the panic around microplastics and fertility to heart, as if using wooden cutting boards will negate age-related infertility, for example.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

Surely if one driver activates overtake mode the other driver can activate boost mode to negate any benefit?

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

Airlines covered by a United Nations carbon-offsetting program for aviation have less than two years to negate their emissions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

The note observes that Truflation consistently led CPI higher in 2021 and lower in 2022 and its efficacy is such that it may eventually negate the whole point of CPI in the first place.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 18, 2026

This was done to negate the power of organization and to neutralize our collective strength.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• annihilate
• belie
• cancel out
• disallow
• disprove
• invalidate
• neutralize
• nullify
• rebut
• reverse
• undo
• vitiate
• void