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   positive

   /ˈpɒzɪtɪv/

   adjective

   • 1. consisting in or characterized by the presence rather than the absence of distinguishing features.
   • ▪ expressing or implying affirmation, agreement, or permission: "the company received a positive response from investors" Similar affirmativefavourableapprovingin the affirmativegoodconstructiveenthusiasticsupportivereassuringencouragingcorroborativeOpposite negative
   • ▪ (of the results of a test or experiment) indicating that a certain substance or condition is present or exists: "the positive results of a pregnancy test" Similar showing a reactionaffirmativeOpposite negative
   • ▪ (of a person) having a specified condition, or showing traces of a specified substance in their body: "a player had tested positive for cocaine use"
   • 2. constructive, optimistic, or confident: "there needs to be a positive approach to young offenders" Similar constructivepracticalusefulpragmaticproductivehelpfulworthwhilebeneficialeffectiveefficaciousoptimistichopefulconfidentforward-lookingcheerfulsanguinebuoyantassuredinformal:upbeatOpposite pessimistic
   • ▪ showing progress or improvement: "the prospects for positive growth in the economy do not look good" Similar favourablegoodpleasingwelcomepromisingencouraginghearteningpropitiousauspiciousOpposite negative
   • 3. with no possibility of doubt; definite: "he made a positive identification of a glossy ibis" Similar definiteconclusivecertaincategoricalunequivocalincontrovertibleindisputableundeniableincontestableunmistakableunambiguousindubitableunquestionableirrefutablebeyond questionbeyond a doubtabsolutereliablepersuasiveconvincingconcretetangibleclearclear-cutprecisedirectexplicitexpressfirmdecisiverealactualinformal:as sure as eggs is eggsOpposite doubtfuldisputable
   • ▪ convinced in one's opinion; certain: "‘You are sure it was the same man?’ ‘Positive!’ said George" Similar certainsureconvincedconfidentsatisfiedfree from doubtassuredpersuadedOpposite uncertainunsure
   • ▪ downright; complete (used for emphasis): informal "it's a positive delight to see you" Similar uttercompletesheerabsoluterealtotalperfectout-and-outpureoutrightthoroughgoingthoroughdownrightunmitigatedunqualifiedconsummateveritablerankunalloyedinformal:rightbloodyfair
   • 4. (of a quantity) greater than zero.
   • 5. containing, producing, or denoting an electric charge opposite to that carried by electrons: "each battery has a positive and negative terminal"
   • 6. (of a photographic image) showing lights and shades or colours true to the original.
   • 7. denoting the primary degree of an adjective or adverb, which expresses simple quality without qualification.
   • 8. dealing only with matters of fact and experience; not speculative or theoretical.
   • 9. relating to or denoting any of the air or fire signs, considered active in nature.

   noun

   • 1. a desirable or constructive quality or attribute: "take your weaknesses and translate them into positives"
   • 2. a positive photographic image, especially one printed from a negative: "the photographic process involves separate runs with the red, green, and blue separation positives"
   • 3. a result of a test or experiment indicating that a certain substance or condition is present or exists: "let us look at the distribution of those positives"
   • 4. the part of an electric circuit that is at a higher electrical potential than another point designated as having zero electrical potential: "try linking the signal input directly to positive"
   • 5. a number greater than zero.
   • 6. an adjective or adverb in the positive degree.

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French positif, -ive or Latin positivus, from posit- ‘placed’, from the verb ponere. The original sense referred to laws as being formally ‘laid down’, which gave rise to the sense ‘explicitly laid down and admitting no question’, hence ‘certain’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. positiveness noun

   Scrabble Points: 13

   • P

     3

   • O

     1

   • S

     1

   • I

     1

   • T

     1

   • I

     1

   • V

     4

   • E

     1

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