positive meaning and definition

POSITIVE noun

Definition of positive (noun)

1. the primary form of an adjective or adverb; denotes a quality without qualification, comparison, or relation to increase or diminution
   • synonyms: positive degree
2. a film showing a photographic image whose tones correspond to those of the original subject

POSITIVE adjective

Definition of positive (adjective)

1. characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.
   • "a positive attitude"; "the reviews were all positive"; "a positive benefit"; "a positive demand"
   • antonym: negative
2. persuaded of; very sure
   • "were convinced that it would be to their advantage to join"; "I am positive he is lying"; "was confident he would win"
   • synonyms: confident, convinced
3. involving advantage or good
   • "a plus (or positive) factor"
   • synonyms: plus
4. indicating existence or presence of a suspected condition or pathogen
   • "a positive pregnancy test"
   • synonyms: confirming
   • antonym: disconfirming
5. formally laid down or imposed
   • "positive laws"
   • synonyms: prescribed
6. impossible to deny or disprove
   • "incontrovertible proof of the defendant's innocence"; "proof positive"; "an irrefutable argument"
   • synonyms: incontrovertible, irrefutable
7. of or relating to positivism
   • "positivist thinkers"; "positivist doctrine"; "positive philosophy"
   • synonyms: positivist, positivistic
8. reckoned, situated or tending in the direction which naturally or arbitrarily is taken to indicate increase or progress or onward motion
   • "positive increase in graduating students"
   • antonym: negative
9. greater than zero
   • "positive numbers"
10. having a positive charge
    • "protons are positive"
    • synonyms: electropositive, positively charged
11. marked by excessive confidence
    • "an arrogant and cocksure materialist"; "so overconfident and impudent as to speak to the queen"; "the less he knows the more positive he gets"
    • synonyms: cocksure, overconfident