What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
negation
Example
The negation of 'All dogs are mammals' is 'Not all dogs are mammals'. [negation: noun]
Example
The sentence 'I have no money' contains negation. [negation: noun]
Example
He used negation to reject the idea of going to the party. [negation: verb]
denial
Example
She was in denial about her addiction and refused to seek help. [denial: noun]
Example
He denied any involvement in the crime. [denied: verb]
Example
The company issued a denial of the allegations made against them. [denial: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Denial is more commonly used than negation in everyday language, especially in psychology and law. However, negation is more common in logic and grammar.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between negation and denial?
Both negation and denial can be used in formal or informal contexts, but negation is more commonly used in formal contexts due to its association with logic and grammar.
