Definition of: privative

(priv′ə·tiv) adjective
1. Causing privation, want, or destitution; depriving.
2. Gram. Altering a word so as to express a negative instead of a positive meaning; also, denoting negation: privative particles (such prefixes and suffixes as a–, an–, in–, –less).
3. Logic Noting or denoting negation or privation.
—noun
1. That which has its only reality in the absence of something; a negative conception.
2. Gram. A prefix indicating negation; an adjective indicating the absence of that which is ordinarily or naturally inherent. [<L privativus]
—priv′a·tive·ly adverb
—priv′a·tive·ness noun