positivity

/ˌpɒzəˈtɪvəti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌpɑːzəˈtɪvəti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌpä-zə-ˈti-və-tē/ (ame, mw)

positivity — noun

1. a way of thinking that stays hopeful and notices the encouraging side of things

1.名詞C1
釋義

a way of thinking that stays hopeful and notices the encouraging side of things

例句

Maya's positivity kept the team calm during the delayed train trip.

pattern: positivity kept [group] calm

After the storm, there was still positivity about reopening the cafe.

pattern: positivity about something

同義詞
  • optimism

    more often about expecting good results in the future

  • hopefulness

    close in meaning and often more personal or emotional

  • cheerfulness

    focuses more on a happy manner that others can see

  • confidence

    sounds firmer and is often based on trust in success

反義詞
  • negativity

    a habit of noticing what is bad or discouraging

  • pessimism

    specifically means expecting bad results

文法句型

positivity about something

bring positivity to something

spread positivity

maintain positivity

用法筆記

Usually uncountable and common after verbs such as bring, spread, and maintain. Distinguish from noun/2, which is about tests or evidence that something is present, not a person's attitude.

常見錯誤

❌Her positive helped the class relax.
✅Her positivity helped the class relax.
💡Use positivity for the noun naming this quality; positive is usually an adjective.
❌The team had many positivities after the loss.
✅The team still showed positivity after the loss.
💡This sense is usually uncountable when you mean a general attitude.

2. the condition of a test, sample, or result showing that a disease, substance, or

2.名詞C2
釋義

the condition of a test, sample, or result showing that a disease, substance, or other feature is there

例句

The lab report showed positivity for flu in three student samples.

pattern: positivity for [disease]

Doctors worried because test positivity was rising in the north district.

collocation: test positivity

同義詞
  • presence

    broader and simply states that something is there

  • detection

    stresses the act of finding something by testing

  • positive finding

    a more explicit phrase used in reports and clinical writing

反義詞
  • negativity

    the state of showing a negative result in testing

  • absence

    states directly that the substance or feature is not there

文法句型

positivity for something

test positivity

positivity rate

marker positivity

用法筆記

Common in medical and scientific writing, especially in phrases such as test positivity, positivity for X, and marker positivity. Distinguish from noun/1, which is about attitude rather than evidence that something is present.

常見錯誤

❌The test was positivity for flu.
✅The test was positive for flu.' / 'The test showed positivity for flu.
💡After 'be', use the adjective positive; positivity is the noun.
❌Her positivity surprised the doctor.
✅Her test positivity surprised the doctor.' / 'She tested positive.
💡In this sense, the noun usually needs a test or marker context.