false negative
C1Formal, Technical, Academic
Definition
Meaning
A result, typically from a test, that incorrectly indicates the absence of a condition, disease, or attribute that is actually present.
Any instance where something harmful or significant is wrongly deemed absent, safe, or non-existent, leading to a failure to detect a real problem or threat.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a technical compound noun. Used metaphorically in non-technical contexts to describe a failure to identify a real problem. Contrasts with 'false positive'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or syntactic differences. The term is used identically in technical contexts across both varieties.
Connotations
Strongly associated with scientific, medical, and statistical reliability. Carries a serious connotation of missed danger or error.
Frequency
Equally frequent in technical registers in both BrE and AmE. Uncommon in everyday casual conversation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The test produced a false negative.We are concerned about the false negative rate.A false negative for cancer is a serious issue.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A false sense of security (related concept)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used in risk assessment: 'Our security scan gave a false negative, missing the malware.'
Academic
Common in scientific papers, psychology, medicine, and statistics discussing test validity and error rates.
Everyday
Uncommon. If used, it's often in discussions about health tests: 'My first COVID test was a false negative.'
Technical
The primary domain. Used in medicine, diagnostics, quality control, statistics (hypothesis testing), and computer security.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The test can potentially false-negative in early stages of infection.
- We must account for tests that might false-negative.
American English
- The assay false-negatived due to a reagent issue.
- How often does this model false-negative?
adverb
British English
- The test performed false-negatively under those conditions. (Highly technical/rare)
- It reported false-negatively.
American English
- The system responded false-negatively to the threat. (Rare)
- The sample tested false-negatively.
adjective
British English
- The false-negative result caused a delay in treatment.
- We analysed the false-negative cases.
American English
- They studied the false-negative rate of the procedure.
- A false-negative reading is a serious concern.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The doctor said the first test might have been a false negative.
- A false negative in a security check is dangerous.
- The high rate of false negatives made the screening programme unreliable.
- Researchers are trying to reduce the number of false negatives in cancer detection.
- The statistical model was adjusted to minimise false negatives, even at the cost of increasing false positives.
- A false negative in the initial diagnosis meant the treatment protocol was not initiated for another six months.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'FALSE' means wrong, 'NEGATIVE' means 'not there'. A false negative is a wrong report that something is NOT there, when it actually IS.
Conceptual Metaphor
TESTING IS A FILTER (a false negative is a dangerous item that slips through the filter). KNOWLEDGE IS LIGHT (a false negative is a shadow where light should be).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation 'ложный негатив'. The standard term is 'ложноотрицательный результат'.
- Do not confuse with 'false positive' ('ложноположительный результат'). The distinction is critical.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as an adjective without a noun (e.g., 'The result was false negative' - should be '...a false negative').
- Confusing it with 'false positive'. A false negative says you're fine when you're not; a false positive says you have a problem when you don't.
Practice
Quiz
In a medical context, which scenario describes a 'false negative'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A false negative incorrectly indicates something is absent (negative) when it is actually present. A false positive incorrectly indicates something is present (positive) when it is actually absent.
Yes, but less commonly. It can be used metaphorically in fields like security, finance, or business to describe a failure to detect a real threat or problem (e.g., 'The fraud detection system gave a false negative').
Yes, but this is informal and highly technical jargon (e.g., 'The test false-negatived'). In formal writing, it's better to use phrases like 'produced a false negative' or 'yielded a false-negative result'.
Because a false negative can lead to a lack of treatment for a person who is actually sick, potentially allowing the disease to progress. A false positive, while causing anxiety and possibly unnecessary procedures, usually leads to further testing that corrects the error.