orphaned negative

noun

A negative word or term (such as "disgruntled", "uncouth" or "incognito") that has no positive equivalent in current use.

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Meanings

nounorphaned negative (plural orphaned negatives)

plural orphaned negatives

  1. grammarA negative word or term (such as "disgruntled", "uncouth" or "incognito") that has no positive equivalent in current use.
Cite this entry
APA

orphaned negative. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/orphaned%20negative

MLA

“orphaned negative.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/orphaned%20negative. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “orphaned negative,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/orphaned%20negative.

Source: orphaned negative on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.