negate

[ ni-geyt, neg-eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ne·gat·ed, ne·gat·ing.

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)

, ne·gat·ed, ne·gat·ing.

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

   a pessimism that always negates.

negate

/ nɪˈɡeɪt /

verb

1. to make ineffective or void; nullify; invalidate
2. to deny or contradict

Derived Forms

• neˈgator, noun

Other Words From

• ne·gator ne·gater noun
• rene·gate verb (used with object) renegated renegating
• self-ne·gating adjective
• unne·gated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of negate¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of negate¹

C17: from Latin negāre, from neg-, variant of nec not + aio I say

Example Sentences

Pittsburgh won, 18-16, after Kansas City had a successful two-point conversion attempt negated by a holding penalty on tackle Eric Fisher.

From Washington Post

We caught some of these during manual checks, but reading through all the documents would be practically impossible and would negate the benefit of building a model in the first place.

From ProPublica

On a third and four earlier in the drive, Brady was intercepted by Kansas City’s Tyrann Mathieu, but the play was negated by a holding penalty on teammate Charvarius Ward.

From Washington Post

That 50-50 split, however, might also negate much benefit from getting rid of the filibuster.

From Washington Post

They smashed windows, toppled artifacts, rifled through senators’ private desks in search of “evidence” that would help them literally turn back the clock, negating the results of a free and fair election.

From Washington Post

Or worse, it would negate Kercher completely, which has been a regular practice in the coverage of the case.

From The Daily Beast

Gelman quietly answered “no,” and that seemed to negate his hearsay point.

From The Daily Beast

Just because two goods or two rights are in tension, it does not mean that one should negate the other.

From The Daily Beast

Almost as if to negate the inevitable White House walk-back that his statement was “taken out of context,” Biden dug in his heels.

From The Daily Beast

That's not to negate the fact that we hope that the destination will be satisfying.

From The Daily Beast

The Anarchistic teachings have in common only this, that they negate the State for our future.

From Project Gutenberg

A part of them negate law for our future; these teachings may be called anomistic.

From Project Gutenberg

They have this in common, that they negate the State for our future.

From Project Gutenberg

One part of them negate property for our future; these teachings may be characterized as indoministic.

From Project Gutenberg

Therefore if the universe be really dual, its two principles must negate and contradict each other.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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