double negative

ˈdʌbəl ˈnɛɡətɪv

Definition

Definition of double negative - Reverso English Dictionary

Noun

grammar rule

TECH.

two negatives used together in a clause for a single negative effect

TECH.

Saying 'I don't know nothing' is a double negative..

double negation

language

TECH.

affirmative meaning from two negatives

TECH.

A double negative can confuse the meaning in English sentences.

Add a suggestion |

Feedback:

Expressions with double

double as

serve a second purpose or function at the same time

My sofa doubles as a guest bed.

double back

retrace one's steps to a previous point

After realizing the mistake, she doubled back to the store.

double booked

adj.

having two appointments or reservations at the same time

She was double booked and had to reschedule one of her meetings..

double date

date where two couples participate together

We went on a double date to the movies.

double dip

dipping food twice in sauce

He was caught doing a double dip at the party.

double life

hidden aspect of someone's life kept secret

She discovered his double life after finding secret emails.

Expressions with negative

go negative

shift from positive to negative actions or attitudes

The discussion started to go negative after the disagreement.

in the negative

adv.

in a way that means no

She replied in the negative to the invitation.

paint a negative picture

describe something in a bad way

The report paints a negative picture of the company's future.

negative change

decrease in quality or value

There was a negative change in the quality of the product.

negative consequences

unfavorable outcomes from a decision or event

The negative consequences of the policy change were felt by many employees.

negative contribution

action or input that causes harm or problems

His negative contribution to the project delayed its completion.

negative feedback

critical or disapproving comments or reactions

She received negative feedback on her presentation..

negative influence

person or thing that causes harm

He was considered a negative influence on the team.

negative sign

indicator of something unfavorable or detrimental

The negative sign in the report worried the investors.

negative press

information that shows someone or something in a bad way

The company received negative press after the scandal.

Examples of double negative in a sentence

Avoid using a double negative in formal writing.
Using a double negative can confuse listeners.
The teacher explained how a double negative works.

View all translations of double negative

✨Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.

French:double négation, négation redondante, ...
German:doppelte Verneinung, Doppelte Verneinung, ...
Italian:doppia negazione, negazione doppia, ...
Spanish:doble negación, ...
Portuguese:duplo negativo, dupla negação, ...
Chinese:双重否定, ...
Japanese:二重否定, ...
Arabic:نَفْي مُزْدَوَج, ...
Hebrew:שְׁלִילָה כְּפוּלָה, שְׁלִילָה כְּפוּלָה, ...
Russian:двойное отрицание, двойной отрицательный оборот, ...
Ukrainian:подвійне заперечення, подвійна негативна конструкція, ...
Hindi:दोहरा नकारात्मक, दोहरी नकारात्मकता, ...
Bengali:দ্বৈত নঞর্থক, দ্বিগুণ নেতিবাচক, ...
Catalan:doble negació, ...
Czech:dvojitý zápor, spojení dvou záporů s kladným významem, ...
Danish:dobbelt nægtelse, dobbelt negation, ...
Dutch:dubbele ontkenning, ...
Greek:διπλή άρνηση, διπλός αρνητισμός, ...
Hungarian:kettős tagadás, dupla tagadás, ...
Khmer:អវិជ្ជមានទ្វេ, ការប្រើពាក្យបដិសេធពីរ, ...
Korean:이중 부정, 두 번 부정, ...
Persian:منفی دوگانه, دو منفی که معنای مثبت می‌دهد, ...
Polish:podwójne zaprzeczenie, ...
Portuguese (BR):duplo negativo, dupla negação, ...
Romanian:negație dublă, dublă negație, ...
Swedish:dubbel negation, dubbel nekation, ...
Thai:ปฏิเสธซ้อน, การใช้ปฏิเสธสองครั้ง, ...
Turkish:çift olumsuzluk, çift olumsuz, ...
Vietnamese:phủ định kép, câu phủ định kép, ...

Browse the dictionary entries starting with “d”:

double mini trampoline

double negation

double nelson

double obelisk

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

100,000 expressions & idioms Understand any expression you come across: from corporate jargon like 💬 touch base or ↩️ circle back to everyday expressions such as 🌊 out of the blue or 🦆 lame duck, as well as idioms like 🍲 spill the beans and 🐎 hold your horses.

40,000 images When you search for a concrete noun or object, images help you grasp the meaning at a glance. Try searching for 🧵 puppytooth, 🎠 merry-go-round, ⚜️ fleur-de-lys, or 💤 bunk bed.

Informal language & slang Everyday conversations are packed with informal expressions and slang. Meanings are clearly tagged, so you'll always know when a word is casual. Look up hangry (😋 hungry + 😡 angry), 😎 rizz, 🕹️ noob, or 🔑 low-key.

Abbreviations & acronyms Quickly decode modern abbreviations and acronyms. Go from IDK to OMG in seconds and stay up to date with popular abbreviations such as 🐐 GOAT, 📜 tl;dr, 👀 POV, or 🖥️ AFK.

Regional usage (US / UK) Reverso highlights regional differences between American and British English. You’ll never have to wonder where a word is commonly used: try lift vs. elevator, courgette vs. zucchini, or popular British slang like dodgy or banter. What’s more, when you search for 'color', you’ll immediately see its British counterpart, 'colour'.

Get more than a simple definition

Translations for each meaning View translations alongside each meaning to see how a word is translated in each context. Simply toggle translations ON and choose among 25+ languages. You can also display the translation of definitions or examples into your native language to deepen your understanding.

Synonyms & related words by meaning View synonyms and related words for each meaning, not just for the word as a whole. This helps you choose the most accurate word for your context. Click the

icon to discover related terms: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, umbrella terms… Try with happening or hunch.

Multiple examples for every meaning Each meaning comes with three real-life examples to show you how the word is used in different contexts. Click the

icon next to the first example to see two additional options and learn to use new vocabulary naturally.

Go from understanding to mastery

Save words for later review Click the

icon to save words you want to revisit. You can also save a specific meaning by clicking on the

icon next to it. For example, you might want to save the word “table” as a verb, which means “to postpone”.

Practice with personalized flashcards Reverso automatically transforms your searches and saved words into personalized flashcards and quizzes, featuring high-quality audio and usage examples. This helps you transform terms you only recognize into words you actually use confidently.

Learn with Netflix, YouTube, and your favorite texts With Reverso Chrome extension, transform movies, TV shows, articles, or song lyrics into an interactive lesson. Look up words and expressions in one click on any website and learn with your favorite content.

Definition of double negative - Reverso English Dictionary

Noun

Expressions with double

Expressions with negative

Terms related to double negative

Examples of double negative in a sentence

View all translations of double negative

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

Get more than a simple definition

Go from understanding to mastery