neutral
not taking part or giving assistance in a dispute or war between others: Sweden was a neutral nation during World War II.
not aligned with or supporting any side or position in a controversy: The arbitrator was absolutely neutral.
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.
of no particular kind, characteristics, etc.; indefinite (sometimes used in combination): 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.
(of a color or shade)
gray; without hue; of zero chroma; achromatic.
matching well with many or most other colors or shades, as white or beige.
Botany, Zoology. neuter.
not causing or reflecting a change in something: It is believed that the new tax law will be revenue neutral.
Chemistry. exhibiting neither acid nor alkaline qualities: neutral salts.
Physics.
(of a particle) having no charge.
(of an atom, molecule, collection of particles, fluid, or solid) having no net charge; electroneutral; not electrified.
not magnetized.
Phonetics. (of a vowel) pronounced with the tongue relaxed in a central position, as the a in alive; reduced.
a person or a nation that remains unaligned with any side, as in a controversy or war.
a citizen of a nation that does not join or support any side during a war.
Machinery, Automotive. the position or state of disengaged gears or other interconnecting parts: in neutral.
a neutral color.
Origin of neutral
1Other words for neutral
Other words from neutral
- 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
- quasi-neutral, adjective
- qua·si-neu·tral·ly, adverb
- sem·i·neu·tral, adjective
- un·neu·tral, adjective
- un·neu·tral·ly, adverb
Words Nearby neutral
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use neutral in a sentence
For decades, toy production and marketing was increasingly gender neutral.
The winter can be so drab—all greys, blacks, and neutral tones.
The Daily Beast’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: For the Carrie Bradshaw in Your Life | Allison McNearney | November 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut Herx showed that this “gender-neutral” rule had never been applied against men.
Catholic Church: Religious Freedom Trumps Civil Rights | Jay Michaelson | November 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe fact is, there are facially neutral religious rules that have been unevenly enforced for millennia.
Catholic Church: Religious Freedom Trumps Civil Rights | Jay Michaelson | November 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTA key principle of Wikipedia was that articles should have a neutral point of view.
A desultory conversation on politics, in which neither took the slightest interest, was a safe neutral ground.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsForeign families of neutral nationality sought more tranquil asylum far beyond the suburbs or on ships lying in the harbour.
The Philippine Islands | John Foremanneutral passenger-steamers were allowed to take away refugees other than Spanish subjects.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanA pretty dispute followed, in which Edna warmly espoused her father's cause and the Doctor remained neutral.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate ChopinThe reaction of human milk is slightly alkaline; of cow's, neutral or slightly acid.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell Todd
British Dictionary definitions for neutral
/ (ˈnjuːtrəl) /
not siding with any party to a war or dispute
of, belonging to, or appropriate to a neutral party, country, etc: neutral land
of no distinctive quality, characteristics, or type; indifferent
(of a colour such as white or black) having no hue; achromatic
(of a colour) dull, but harmonizing with most other colours
a less common term for neuter (def. 2)
chem neither acidic nor alkaline
physics having zero charge or potential
rare having no magnetism
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
a neutral person, nation, etc
a citizen of a neutral state
the position of the controls of a gearbox that leaves the transmission disengaged
Origin of neutral
1Derived forms of neutral
- neutrally, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for neutral
[ nōō′trəl ]
Neither acid nor alkaline.
Having no inherent or net charge, especially electric charge.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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