Definition
A standard radiotelephony word used by pilots and controllers meaning 'no,' 'permission not granted,' or 'that is not correct.' It is one of several phraseology terms designed to give an unambiguous reply on a radio frequency where words like 'no' could be missed or misheard.
Plain English
On the radio, 'negative' is the official way to say no, deny a request, or correct something the other person said.
Context Anchor
Heard on ATC radio calls when a controller or pilot denies a request, corrects a statement, or answers a yes-or-no question.
Derivation
From the Latin 'negare,' meaning 'to deny' or 'to say no.' Aviation adopted 'negative' instead of 'no' because it carries more clearly through static and partial radio reception — the longer word is harder to lose in noise.
Why Pilots Care
Clear use prevents miscommunication that could lead to incorrect actions or safety risks during flight operations.
Intuition Check
Do not read “negative” here as meaning bad, unpleasant, or below zero. In aviation radio use, it means no, not approved, or not correct.
Example Sentence 1
When the controller asked, 'November One Two Three Alpha, do you have the airport in sight?' the pilot replied, 'Negative, still in the clouds.'
Example Sentence 2
Controller: 'Do you have the field in sight?' Pilot: 'Negative, we are still in the clouds.'