Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

positive

/ˈpɑzɪtɪv/ adjective

In Latin: positivus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about positive at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Included, present, characterized by affirmation.
Formally laid down. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
Stated definitively and without qualification.

noun

A thing capable of being affirmed; something real or actual.
A favourable point or characteristic.
Not a bad situation when we weigh all the positives.
Something having a positive value in physics, such as an electric charge.

Origin

From Old French positif, from Latin positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere (“to place”). Compare posit.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word