Definitions:

From Wolfram MathWorld:

A real quantity having a value less than zero ( < 0 ) is said to be negative. Negative numbers are denoted with a minus sign preceding the corresponding positive number, i.e., -2, -100.

A general example to help you recognize patterns and spot the information you're looking for

Negative numbers are used to represent the amount of a loss or absence. For example, a debt that is owed may be thought of as a negative asset, or a decrease in some quantity may be thought of as a negative increase. Negative numbers are used to describe values on a scale that goes below zero, such as the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales for temperature.