neutral

[ noo-truhl, nyoo- ]

adjective

1. not taking part or giving assistance in a dispute or war between others:

   Sweden was a neutral nation during World War II.

2. not aligned with or supporting any side or position in a controversy:

   The arbitrator was absolutely neutral.

   Synonyms: uninvolved, unbiased, dispassionate, disinterested, impartial

3. of or belonging to a state or party that is not taking part or giving assistance in a dispute:

   Troops cannot be recruited from neutral territory.

4. of no particular kind, characteristics, etc.; indefinite (sometimes used in combination): The awards show has announced a new gender-neutral acting category alongside its longstanding Best Actress and Best Actor ones.

   She had a neutral personality that made no impression whatever.

   The awards show has announced a new gender-neutral acting category alongside its longstanding Best Actress and Best Actor ones.

5. (of a color or shade)
   1. gray; without hue; of zero chroma; achromatic.
   2. matching well with many or most other colors or shades, as white or beige.
6. Botany, Zoology. neuter.
7. not causing or reflecting a change in something:

   It is believed that the new tax law will be revenue neutral.

8. Chemistry. exhibiting neither acid nor alkaline qualities:

   neutral salts.

9. Physics.
   1. (of a particle) having no charge.
   2. (of an atom, molecule, collection of particles, fluid, or solid) having no net charge; electroneutral; not electrified.
   3. not magnetized.
10. Phonetics. (of a vowel) pronounced with the tongue relaxed in a central position, as the a in alive; reduced.

noun

1. a person or a nation that remains unaligned with any side, as in a controversy or war.
2. a citizen of a nation that does not join or support any side during a war.
3. Machinery, Automotive. the position or state of disengaged gears or other interconnecting parts:

   in neutral.

4. a neutral color.

neutral

/ ˈnjuːtrəl /

adjective

1. not siding with any party to a war or dispute
2. of, belonging to, or appropriate to a neutral party, country, etc

   neutral land

3. of no distinctive quality, characteristics, or type; indifferent
4. (of a colour such as white or black) having no hue; achromatic
5. (of a colour) dull, but harmonizing with most other colours
6. See neuter
   a less common term for neuter
7. chem neither acidic nor alkaline
8. physics having zero charge or potential
9. rare.
   having no magnetism
10. phonetics (of a vowel) articulated with the tongue relaxed in mid-central position and the lips midway between spread and rounded

    the word ``about'' begins with a neutral vowel

noun

1. a neutral person, nation, etc
2. a citizen of a neutral state
3. the position of the controls of a gearbox that leaves the transmission disengaged

neutral

/ no̅o̅′trəl /

1. Neither acid nor alkaline.
2. Having no inherent or net charge, especially electric charge.

Derived Forms

• ˈneutrally, adverb

Other Words From

• neutral·ly adverb
• anti·neutral adjective noun
• anti·neutral·ly adverb
• non·neutral adjective noun
• non·neutral·ly adverb
• quasi-neutral adjective
• quasi-neutral·ly adverb
• semi·neutral adjective
• un·neutral adjective
• un·neutral·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of neutral¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin neutrālis “grammatically neuter,” from neutr- (stem of neuter neuter ( def ) ) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of neutral¹

C16: from Latin neutrālis; see neuter

Example Sentences

As a neutral observer, though, this is one of the most enticing matchups in my opinion.

From FiveThirtyEight

In a nod to the neutral-site atmosphere of Super Bowls, the NFL informed the first team to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium that the cannons on the Bucs’ pirate ship will not be booming after every point the team scores.

From Washington Post

Possible solutions could include finding a neutral site outside of Germany to host the game or switching the date of the matchup so that Liverpool could host the first leg.

From Washington Post

There will be limited attendance at Raymond James Stadium, including plenty of neutral spectators.

From Washington Post

Now the share of counter-speech and neutral posts increased.

From Science News For Students

For decades, toy production and marketing was increasingly gender neutral.

From The Daily Beast

The winter can be so drab—all greys, blacks, and neutral tones.

From The Daily Beast

But Herx showed that this “gender-neutral” rule had never been applied against men.

From The Daily Beast

The fact is, there are facially neutral religious rules that have been unevenly enforced for millennia.

From The Daily Beast

A key principle of Wikipedia was that articles should have a neutral point of view.

From The Daily Beast

A desultory conversation on politics, in which neither took the slightest interest, was a safe neutral ground.

From Project Gutenberg

Foreign families of neutral nationality sought more tranquil asylum far beyond the suburbs or on ships lying in the harbour.

From Project Gutenberg

Neutral passenger-steamers were allowed to take away refugees other than Spanish subjects.

From Project Gutenberg

A pretty dispute followed, in which Edna warmly espoused her father's cause and the Doctor remained neutral.

From Project Gutenberg

The reaction of human milk is slightly alkaline; of cow's, neutral or slightly acid.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• disinterested
• evenhanded
• fair-minded
• inactive
• indifferent
• nonaligned
• nonpartisan
• unbiased
• uncommitted
• undecided
• uninvolved