neutral

1 of 2

noun

neu·​tral ˈnü-trəl How to pronounce neutral (audio)
ˈnyü-
1
: one that is neutral
The two countries were neutrals while their neighbors were at war.
2
: a neutral color
She painted the room in neutrals.
3
: a position of disengagement (as of gears)
He put the car in neutral.

neutral

2 of 2

adjective

1
: not engaged on either side
specifically : not aligned with a political or ideological grouping
a neutral nation
2
: of or relating to a neutral state or power
neutral territory
3
a
: not decided or pronounced as to characteristics : indifferent
b(1)
(2)
: nearly achromatic
(2)
: lacking stamens or pistils
d
: neither acid nor basic
e
: not electrically charged
4
: produced with the tongue in the position it has when at rest
the neutral vowels of \ə-ˈbəv\ above
neutrally adverb
neutralness noun

Examples of neutral in a Sentence

Noun He put the car in neutral. Their sister remained a neutral in the dispute. The two countries were neutrals while their neighbors were at war. Adjective He remained neutral while his brothers argued. She tries to be a fair and neutral journalist. The battle took place in neutral waters. The duel will be held on neutral ground. The report was written in neutral language. “Why did you do that?” he asked in a neutral tone of voice.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Throughout the Invictus Games' One Year to Go festivities, Markle largely stuck to winter neutrals, including a variety of skinny jean and boot combos. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 2 Mar. 2024 Both games will throw up tactical trends that should excite hardcore fans and neutrals alike, with the potential for lots of scoring and few breaks in play. Vitas Carosella, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 There are 12 colors available, including neutrals, pastels, and trendy hues. Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2024 Find it on Amazon Go for Pure Opulence with This Easy-To-Use Wallpaper Now is not the time for neutrals and bare clean walls. Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2024 Delicate laces, burnout bows, buckles, beads, sparkles, shines and neutrals created a flirty and fun collection. Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Russian athletes were competing under no flag as neutrals at the Winter Olympics in Beijing due to a previous ban for doping non-compliance. Homero De La Fuente, CNN, 30 Jan. 2024 Even our favorite neutrals and more subtle polishes are getting an eye-catching twist. Annie Blay, Allure, 20 Feb. 2024 Meyer Lemon Keeping a hardworking space like a laundry room doused in boring neutrals is doing a disservice to a space with loads of potential. Marisa Spyker, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2024
Adjective
For Ohioans and anyone else viewing the eclipse, experts at Solar Eyeglasses recommend wearing shades of red and green to enhance your viewing experience and avoid neutral tones. Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 6 Mar. 2024 The Dons are on a nine-game winning streak and will be the home team at a neutral site. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Related article World Athletics trying to ‘remain politically neutral’ during conflicts, says Sebastian Coe However, some pro-LGBTQ rights groups criticized the decision as discriminatory following its announcement. Amanda Davies, CNN, 2 Mar. 2024 The board this week shifted its position to neutral following the latest amendments, according to Thomas Adkins with the Board of Regents. The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2024 This is one of the main reasons scientists are forecasting a nearly 80 percent chance that El Niño will fade to neutral during the April through June period, with a 55 percent chance that La Niña will take charge during June through August. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 The neutral dress served as the perfect blank slate for her diamond and emerald jewels. Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2024 The turquoise drop earrings can add a pop of color to otherwise neutral outfits, while the lightweight gold coin earrings are a versatile option for weddings or everyday wear. Bridget Degnan, Peoplemag, 24 Feb. 2024 In early February, the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center announced that El Niño is transitioning to a neutral pattern of the El Niño Southern Oscillation, or ENSO, with conditions leaning toward La Niña by the summer. Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'neutral.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English neuterall mutually neutralizing, from Medieval Latin *neutralis, back-formation from neutralitas middle ground, from Latin neutralis neuter, from neutr-, neuter

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of neutral was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near neutral

Cite this Entry

“Neutral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neutral. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

neutral

1 of 2 noun
neu·​tral ˈn(y)ü-trəl How to pronounce neutral (audio)
1
: one that is neutral
2
: a neutral color
3
: a state in which transmission gears (as of a motor vehicle) are not in contact so that power from the engine is not passed to the drive shaft

neutral

2 of 2 adjective
1
a
: not favoring either side in a quarrel, contest, or war
b
: of or relating to a neutral country
neutral territory
2
a
: having no distinctive characteristics
a neutral personality
b
: not feeling strongly one way or the other
3
: having no color that stands out
4
: neither acid nor basic
5
: not electrically charged
neutrally adverb

Medical Definition

neutral

1 of 2 noun
neu·​tral ˈn(y)ü-trəl How to pronounce neutral (audio)
: a neutral color

neutral

2 of 2 adjective
1
: not decided or pronounced as to characteristics
2
a
: totally lacking in saturation : achromatic
b
: not decided in color : nearly achromatic : of low saturation
3
: neither acid nor basic : neither acid nor alkaline
specifically : having a pH value of 7.0
a neutral solution contains both hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions at the same concentration 1.00×10−7 Linus Pauling
4
: not electrically charged

Legal Definition

neutral

1 of 2 noun
neu·​tral
: one that is neutral
specifically : an impartial person used in alternative dispute resolution to help resolve or to determine the matters in dispute

neutral

2 of 2 adjective
: not engaged on either side
specifically : not aligned with a political or ideological grouping
neutrally adverb
neutralness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on neutral

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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