negation
UK: nɪˈɡeɪʃ(ə)n | US: nɪˈɡeɪʃ(ə)n
n. the act of denying or refusing something
n. (logic) a proposition that contradicts another
n. the absence or opposite of something
The word "negation" traces back to Latin negatio, derived from negare ("to deny"). The root neg- reflects a core concept of refusal or contradiction, while -ation transforms the verb into a noun denoting the act or result of denying. This structure mirrors other Latin-derived terms like "creation" or "formation," where the suffix -ation systematically converts verbs into abstract nouns.
His silence was interpreted as a negation of the accusation.
In logic, the negation of "true" is "false."
The artist’s work explores themes of presence and negation.
She shook her head in negation when asked if she agreed.
The contract included a clause for the negation of liability under certain conditions.