neutral

American  

[noo-truhl, nyoo-] / ˈnu trəl, ˈnju- /

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:

   unbiased, uninvolved, 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.

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noun

• neutrals
  plural

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 British  

/ 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. 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

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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 Scientific  

/ no̅o̅′trəl /

1. Neither acid nor alkaline.

2. Having no inherent or net charge, especially electric charge.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antineutral
  adjective
• nonneutral
  adjective
• quasi-neutral
  adjective
• semineutral
  adjective
• unneutral
  adjective
• antineutrally
  adverb
• neutrally
  adverb
• nonneutrally
  adverb
• quasi-neutrally
  adverb
• unneutrally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• neutrals
  plural

Etymology

Origin of neutral

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

Explanation

Commonly used to describe a person who doesn’t pick sides in disputes, neutral also pegs anything that refuses to be bold: the color beige, bland clothing, people with no preferences on where to eat for dinner. Being neutral sounds kind of boring. But neutrality is really important in some cases: Judges, for example, must remain totally neutral when hearing a case. Manners mavens say that it's best to remain neutral when topics like politics and religion come up during a party. And boxers can look to the neutral corners in the ring to escape a punch.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

neutral neutrals

They maintain a neutral rating on the stock despite what they tell clients in a note is a strong fiscal 2026 performance on costs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

More than 99 percent of the upper atmosphere consists of electrically neutral gas known as the thermosphere.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026

The Swiss bank cuts its recommendation for M&G stock to sell from neutral, but raises its target price to 330 pence from 300 pence.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

Barrenjoey has a neutral rating and target of 30 Australian cents/share on the stock.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

Because this new system is not explicitly based on race, it is easier to defend on seemingly neutral grounds.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Just 32 athletes from Russia and Belarus competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics as approved neutrals, and combined to win five medals.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

Some Russian athletes competed at both the 2024 Paris Games and this year's Winter Olympics in Milan as neutrals.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

Coastal homeowners are trading in breezy blues and sandy neutrals for a darker, moody palette.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 30, 2026

Beach-house owners are trading seaside clichés—white drywall, breezy blues, sandy neutrals, etc.—for bold interiors with darker tones.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026

She was sorting them into columns: Jack’s side; Julian’s side; neutrals.

From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio

Related Words

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