negative polarity

British  

noun

1. grammar the grammatical character of a word or phrase, such as ever or any, that may normally be used only in a semantically or syntactically negative or interrogative context

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Example Sentences

I asked out loud, ‘Does God have both positive and negative polarity? Is all this destruction part of a plan?’

From Washington Post

“I can’t even” has been around for at least a few decades, part of a linguistic concept known as “negative polarity,” when there are two negatives in a sentence.

From New York Times

Positive/Negative Polarity: “There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. The BIG question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty YES to your adventure!” said author Joseph Campbell.

From Forbes

Each receives the positive electricity from the sun, which it draws by reason of its negative polarity.

From Project Gutenberg

And the earth was sending back its pulsating magnetic currents to the sun, and both were evolving themselves into giant dynamos of marvelous electric power—giving and receiving electric currents of positive and negative polarity of wonderful life-giving potency.

From Project Gutenberg