negation

noun

ne·​ga·​tion ni-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce negation (audio)
1
a
: the action or logical operation of negating or making negative
b
: a negative statement, judgment, or doctrine
especially : a logical proposition formed by asserting the falsity of a given proposition see Truth Table
2
a
: something that is the absence of something actual : nonentity
b
: something considered the opposite of something regarded as positive
negational adjective

Examples of negation in a Sentence

issued specific negations of all of the charges against her a ruling by the Supreme Court that many regarded as a negation of the basic right of privacy
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Resistance to any salary negation can indicate a lack of understanding of your value and potential. Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025 Their robust negations appeared to put both them and their American hosts on the right side of history, compared with writers in the unfree world of authoritarian regimes, who seemed to have been permanently tainted by lies, equivocations, and evasions. Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025 This, of course, is a trick question in so far as whether the novel can be defined at all—or perhaps defined only in its negation. Ocean Vuong september 6, Literary Hub, 6 Sep. 2022 And in the digital era, it’s only become more omnipresent in kids’ lives, so much so that its negation would become very much the point of one of the biggest teen-movie franchises ever. Bruce Handy, Vulture, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for negation

Word History

Etymology

Middle English negacioun "denial, negative assertion," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French negaciun, borrowed from Latin negātiōn-, negātiō "denial, refusal," from negāre "to deny, say no" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at negate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of negation was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Negation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/negation. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

negation

noun
ne·​ga·​tion ni-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce negation (audio)
1
a
: the action of negating : denial
b
: a negative statement
2
: something that is the opposite of something positive
death is the negation of life

More from Merriam-Webster on negation

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