neutral

[ noo-truhl, nyoo- ]

/ ˈnu trəl, ˈnyu- /

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See synonyms for: neutral / neutrals / neutrally on Thesaurus.com

adjective

not taking part or giving assistance in a dispute or war between others: 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 neutral state or party: neutral territory.

of no particular kind, characteristics, etc.; indefinite: a neutral personality that made no impression whatever; a sex-neutral job title.

(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.

noun

a person or a nation that remains neutral, as in a controversy or war.

a citizen of a neutral nation during a war.

Machinery, Automotive. the position or state of disengaged gears or other interconnecting parts: in neutral.

a neutral color.

OTHER WORDS FOR neutral

2 impartial, disinterested, dispassionate, uninvolved, unbiased.

See synonyms for neutral on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of neutral

1400–50; late Middle English <Latin neutrālis grammatically neuter. See neuter, -al¹

OTHER WORDS FROM neutral

neu·tral·ly, adverban·ti·neu·tral, adjective, nounan·ti·neu·tral·ly, adverbnon·neu·tral, adjective, noun

non·neu·tral·ly, adverbquasi-neutral, adjectivequa·si-neu·tral·ly, adverbsem·i·neu·tral, adjectiveun·neu·tral, adjectiveun·neu·tral·ly, adverb

Words nearby neutral

Neustrian, neut., neuter, neutercane, Neutra, neutral, neutral axis, neutral corner, neutral density, neutral ground, neutralism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

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|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.
Super Bowl highlights: Bucs celebrate championship, Tom Brady wins MVP|Des Bieler, Mark Maske, Chuck Culpepper|February 8, 2021|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.
Germany bars Liverpool from entering country for Champions League match with Leipzig|Des Bieler|February 5, 2021|Washington Post
There 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 Post

Now 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.
Sexism Begins in the Toy Aisle|Nancy Kaffer|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
But 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|DAILY BEAST
The 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|DAILY BEAST
A key principle of Wikipedia was that articles should have a neutral point of view.
You Can Look It Up: The Wikipedia Story|Walter Isaacson|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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 Wills
Foreign families of neutral nationality sought more tranquil asylum far beyond the suburbs or on ships lying in the harbour.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
Neutral passenger-steamers were allowed to take away refugees other than Spanish subjects.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
A pretty dispute followed, in which Edna warmly espoused her father's cause and the Doctor remained neutral.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
The 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

neutral

/ (ˈnjuːtrəl) /

adjective

not siding with any party to a war or dispute

of, belonging to, or appropriate to a neutral party, country, etcneutral 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 roundedthe word ``about'' begins with a neutral vowel

noun

a neutral person, nation, etc

a citizen of a neutral state

the position of the controls of a gearbox that leaves the transmission disengaged

Derived forms of neutral

neutrally, adverb

Word Origin for neutral

C16: from Latin neutrālis; see neuter

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

Medical definitions for neutral

neutral

[ nōō′trəl ]

adj.

Belonging to neither kind; not one thing or the other; indifferent.

Of or relating to a solution or compound that is neither acidic nor alkaline.

Of or relating to a compound that does not ionize in solution.

Of or relating to a particle, object, or system that has a net electric charge of zero.

Scientific definitions for neutral

neutral

[ nōō′trəl ]

Neither acid nor alkaline.

Having no inherent or net charge, especially electric charge.

neutral

OTHER WORDS FOR neutral

Origin of neutral

OTHER WORDS FROM neutral

Words nearby neutral

Words related to neutral

How to use neutral in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for neutral

Derived forms of neutral

Word Origin for neutral

Medical definitions for neutral

Scientific definitions for neutral