negation

American  

[ni-gey-shuhn] / nɪˈgeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of denying.

   He shook his head in negation of the charge.

2. a denial.

   a negation of one's former beliefs.

3. something that is without existence; nonentity.

4. the absence or opposite of something that is actual, positive, or affirmative.

   Darkness is the negation of light.

5. a negative statement, idea, concept, doctrine, etc.; a contradiction, refutation, or rebuttal.

   a shameless lie that demands a negation.

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negation British  

/ nɪˈɡeɪʃən /

noun

1. the opposite or absence of something

2. a negative thing or condition

3. the act or an instance of negating

4. logic

   1. the operator that forms one sentence from another and corresponds to the English not

   2. a sentence so formed. It is usually written –p, ~p, ̄p or ⇁ p , where p is the given sentence, and is false when the given sentence is true, and true when it is false

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Other Word Forms

• negational adjective
• negationist noun
• nonnegation noun
• renegation noun

Etymology

Origin of negation

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin negātiōn-, stem of negātiō “denial”; equivalent to negate + -ion

Example Sentences

This platform of negation took root quickly, radically changing what the GOP saw as its purpose.

From Salon

Singh formally apologised to the nation in 2005 in parliament, saying the violence were "the negation of the concept of nationhood enshrined in our constitution".

From BBC

In an array of communications, ranging from advertising to legal filings, negation is often used intentionally to mask a clear understanding of a phrase.

From Science Daily

“I’m intransigent on laïcité, because it helps with national cohesion, national community. It’s not a negation of religion,” Le Drezen said.

From Seattle Times

And my idea of degrowth is not a negation of technology.

From Salon

Related Words

• antithesis
• renunciation
• repudiation