Neg means: a penalty for giving an incorrect answer before a tossup has been fully read.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
neg
(quiz bowl) a penalty for giving an incorrect answer before a tossup has been fully read.
Definitions
UK
#1·Apr 26, 2026UK
(quiz bowl) a penalty for giving an incorrect answer before a tossup has been fully read.
Negs include asking whether her nails are real, or saying that you saw someone else wearing her skirt.
For parents
Neg means: a penalty for giving an incorrect answer before a tossup has been fully read.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
neg means: a penalty for giving an incorrect answer before a tossup has been fully read.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
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UK
#2·Apr 26, 2026UK
(seduction community) An expression or implication that one has a negative value judgement of someone in order to make them desire one's approval, especially when trying to pick up a date.
As we sped down Lake Michigan Drive, I was still feeling a little star-struck and decided that on account of her uber-hot looks, I'd need to start launching negs at her like there was no tomorrow.
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UK
#3·Apr 26, 2026UK
(LGBTQ slang) HIV negative.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Other words near "neg" (N)
neerNEETbuxNEETdomnee wayneezeneezynegatismnegative alchemynegative asmrnegative auranegative bandwidthnegative breadcrumbing
Browse all slang words starting with N.
Related terms
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Semantically related
- quiz bowl63%
(US) A competitive game of answering trivia questions, often played by school and college students.
- go negative62%
(US, politics) To focus on attacking political opponents rather than promoting oneself.
- neg diff62%
(transitive, internet slang, fandom slang, humorous) To win a fight against another with negative difficulty (extremely little difficulty; less difficulty than no diff).