neutral

[ noo-truhl, nyoo- ]

/ ˈnu trəl, ˈnyu- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR neutral 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.

Nearby words

Origin of neutral

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

SYNONYMS FOR neutral

2. impartial, disinterested, dispassionate, uninvolved, unbiased.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR neutral ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

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

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for 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.
A Tale of Male Surrender|Simon Carr|June 20, 2009|DAILY BEAST
John looked sapient, and said, neutrally, that some poetry wasn't bad.
Mount Music|E. Oe. Somerville and Martin Ross
But honesty only asked her neutrally, "Is it really growth and freedom, and generous expansion of the soul?"
The Brimming Cup|Dorothy Canfield Fisher
"It ought to be refreshing," struck in Courtlandt, neutrally.
The Adventures of a Widow|Edgar Fawcett

If her Words died away, as Snow melts, neutrally, 'tis no great Recommendation of them.
Lectures on Poetry|Joseph Trapp
"Miss Teller has gone to Multomah, I believe," she remarked, neutrally.
Anne|Constance Fenimore Woolson

British Dictionary definitions for neutrally

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 Formsneutrally, 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

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

adj.

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).