Negate
/nɪˈɡeɪt/
verbB2
Definition
Negate means to cancel out or make something have no effect. It can also mean to deny or say that something is not true. For example, if one fact negates another, it shows the other fact is wrong or not important.
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See It in Action
To make something have no effect or cancel it out
- •The new law negates the old rules about parking.
- •His hard work was negated by his bad attitude.
- •The medicine negates the effect of the poison.
To deny or say something is not true
- •She negated the accusation by showing proof of her innocence.
- •The witness negated the claim that he was at the scene.
- •He negated the idea that the project was a failure.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "negate" like "no" or "not," but used to stop or cancel something more complete or formal.
- ✓Picture someone crossing out a word on a paper to show it is wrong or should not be counted.
- ✓It's the feeling when you realize your answer is wrong because another fact proves it false.
- ✓Sounds like "nee-GATE" → imagine a gate closing to block or stop something from going through.
- ✓Think of a referee in sports who negates a goal because of a rule violation.
- ✓NOT like "deny" (which only means to say something is not true), "negate" also means to stop the effect or power of something.
- ✓NOT like "cancel" (which is often used for plans or events), "negate" is more about ideas, facts, or effects being made useless.
- ✓NOT like "ignore" (which means to not pay attention), "negate" means actively making something invalid or powerless.
Try Other Words
- •Invalidate: to make something not valid or true (Use when talking about making rules, facts, or results not correct)
- •Deny: to say something is not true (Use when focusing on refusing to accept a statement)
- •Cancel: to stop something from happening or being effective (Use when talking about plans, events, or actions)
- •Nullify: to make something legally or officially no longer effective (Use in formal or legal contexts)
Unboxing
- •Prefix "ne-" often means "not" or "without"
- •Root "gate" comes from Latin "negare," meaning "to deny" or "say no"
- •Originates from Latin "negare," meaning to deny or refuse
- •First used in English in the 15th century with the meaning of denying or making ineffective
- •Today, used in formal speech or writing to mean canceling effects or denying truth
Reflect & Connect
•Can something be true but still be negated by another fact? How does that work in real life?
•How does negating an idea affect a conversation or argument?
Fill in the blanks
1.When new evidence appears, it can negate the previous ___ that was believed to be true.
2.The strong wind negated the efforts of the firefighters to ___ the fire quickly.
3.Saying "I don't care" can sometimes negate the feelings of someone who is ___.
4.In science, one experiment may negate another if it shows the first was ___.
5.The judge's decision negated the contract because it was signed under ___.
6.Sometimes people negate their own success by focusing only on their ___.
7.The new rule negates the old one, so everyone must ___ to the new regulations.