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. 2023
How to use neutral in a sentence
As a neutral observer, though, this is one of the most enticing matchups in my opinion.
The Best Round Of The Champions League Is Here | Chadwick Matlin (chadwick.matlin@fivethirtyeight.com) | February 12, 2021 | FiveThirtyEightIn 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.
Super Bowl highlights: Bucs celebrate championship, Tom Brady wins MVP | Des Bieler, Mark Maske, Chuck Culpepper | February 8, 2021 | Washington PostPossible 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.
Germany bars Liverpool from entering country for Champions League match with Leipzig | Des Bieler | February 5, 2021 | Washington PostThere will be limited attendance at Raymond James Stadium, including plenty of neutral spectators.
Take the Buccaneers and the points against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs | Neil Greenberg | February 4, 2021 | Washington PostNow the share of counter-speech and neutral posts increased.
How to fight online hate before it leads to violence | Kathiann Kowalski | February 4, 2021 | Science News For Students
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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