neither

1 of 4

conjunction

nei·​ther ˈnē-t͟hər 

also

ˈnī- 

1

: not either

neither black nor white

2

: also not

neither did I

Is it neither nor or neither or?: Usage Guide

Although use with or is neither archaic nor wrong, neither is usually followed by nor. A few commentators think that neither must be limited in reference to two, but reference to more than two has been quite common for several hundred years.

rigid enforcement of antique decorum will help neither language, literature, nor literati

—James Sledd

neither

2 of 4

pronoun

: not the one or the other of two or more

Does neither take a singular or plural verb?: Usage Guide

Some commentators insist that neither must be used with a singular verb. It generally is, but especially when a prepositional phrase intervenes between it and the verb, a plural verb is quite common.

neither of those ideal solutions are in sight

—C. P. Snow

neither

3 of 4

adjective

: not either

neither hand

neither

4 of 4

adverb

1

chiefly dialectal : either

2

: similarly not : also not

just as the serf was not permitted to leave the land, so neither was his offspring

—G. G. Coulton

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you pronounce neither?

Neither has two acceptable pronunciations. Its first syllable can sound like knee or like nigh.

Is it 'neither is' or 'neither are'?

Neither is usually used with a singular verb, as in "Neither one is here." But sometimes, especially when a prepositional phrase with a plural in it comes between neither and the verb, a plural verb is used, as in "Neither of those are going to work."

Does neither mean "two"?

Neither is most often used to mean "not one or the other of two people or things" or "not one and not the other of two people or things."

Examples of neither in a Sentence

Pronoun

“Which one do you want?” “Neither, thanks.”

Neither of them dances well.

There are two flashlights, neither of which works.

Adjective

“Which answer is correct?” “Neither one.”

Recent Examples on the Web

Conjunction

Neither this Denver attorney nor Gaia’s Garden has returned a request for comment. —Emma Gannon, The Cannabist, 9 May 2017

Neither the communications director nor the CEO of the American Wind Energy Association, which spends more than $20 million per year promoting wind power, would comment on the rural opposition to wind turbines. —Robert Bryce, Twin Cities, 11 Apr. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Conjunction, Pronoun, Adjective, and Adverb

Middle English, alteration (influenced by either) of nauther, nother, from Old English nāhwæther, nōther, from nā, nō not + hwæther which of two, whether

First Known Use

Conjunction

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Pronoun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1551, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing neither

• neither fish nor fowl
• neither here nor there

Kids Definition

neither

1 of 3 pronoun

nei·​ther ˈnē-t͟hər 

also

ˈnī- 

: not the one and not the other

neither of the two

neither

2 of 3 conjunction

1

: both not : equally not

neither black nor white

2

: also not

neither did I

neither

3 of 3 adjective

: not either

neither hand