neutral
- 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.
- 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.
Origin of neutral
Synonyms for neutral
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for neutrally
equally, indifferently, objectively, disinterestedly, dispassionately, unbiasedlyExamples from the Web for neutrally
Contemporary Examples of neutrally
Naturally then—and I use the word as neutrally as I can—there are going to be two sets of reactions in play here.
Historical Examples of neutrally
"Miss Teller has gone to Multomah, I believe," she remarked, neutrally.
AnneConstance Fenimore Woolson
"It ought to be refreshing," struck in Courtlandt, neutrally.
The Adventures of a WidowEdgar Fawcett
John looked sapient, and said, neutrally, that some poetry wasn't bad.
Mount MusicE. Oe. Somerville and Martin Ross
He gives the general view of things, clearly, neutrally, with no vulgar emphasis of black and white.
An Introduction to the Study of BrowningArthur Symons
If her Words died away, as Snow melts, neutrally, 'tis no great Recommendation of them.
Lectures on PoetryJoseph Trapp
neutral
- 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
- a neutral person, nation, etc
- a citizen of a neutral state
- the position of the controls of a gearbox that leaves the transmission disengaged
Word Origin for neutral
Word Origin and History for neutrally
neutral
mid-15c., "one who remains neutral," from Latin neutralis "of neuter gender," (see neutral (adj.)). Meaning "disengaged position in gear mechanisms" is from 1912.
neutral
late 15c., "composed of contrasting elements which, in proper proportion, neutralize each other," from Middle French neutral, from Latin neutralis "of neuter gender," from neuter (see neuter (adj.)). Chemistry sense is from 1660s. Sense of "not taking sides in a fight" (1540s) probably is from a similar meaning in Medieval Latin. Of colors, from 1821. Neutral corner is from boxing (1908).
neutral
(nōō′trəl)- 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.
neutral
- Neither acid nor alkaline.
- Having no inherent or net charge, especially electric charge.