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Positive/Negative

Positive/Negative

Engineering definition

The positive (+) and negative (−) electrical potential at the ends of a circuit. A battery has a positive terminal (+ pole) and a negative terminal (− pole).

Medical definition

The presence or absence of a condition or organism; can also refer to the result or outcome, the response to treatment, or a characteristic affect.

Confusion

In the engineering sense, positive and negative are neutral terms that refer to an electrical charge or polarity. In medical usage, the terms carry diagnostic weight and implications.