Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for double negation. Search instead for double taxation.

double negation

British  

noun

  1. logic the principle that a statement is equivalent to the denial of its negation, as it is not the case that John is not here meaning John is here

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

As we already have one negative in the word not, the word neither should be changed to either, to avoid the double negation.

From Slips of Speech : a Helpful Book for Everyone Who Aspires to Correct the Everyday Errors of Speaking by John Hendricks Bechtel

Now Hegel himself, in building up his method of double negation, offers the vividest possible example of this vice of intellectualism.

From A Pluralistic Universe Hibbert Lectures at Manchester College on the Present Situation in Philosophy by William James

There is much significance in the double negation of my text, 'Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision.'

From Expositions of Holy Scripture Second Corinthians, Galatians, and Philippians Chapters I to End. Colossians, Thessalonians, and First Timothy. by Alexander Maclaren

A double negation occurs in Slavic frequently, without indicating an affirmation; for even if another negation has already taken place, they are accustomed to prefix to the verb the negative particle ne or nje.

From Historical View of the Languages and Literature of the Slavic Nations by Therese Albertine Louise von Jacob Robinson

Upon which double negation, which he meant as a stronger affirmative, the worthy champion would walk in to play his game of bezique with the commandant.

From Tartarin of Tarascon by Alphonse Daudet

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training