neither

1 of 4

conjunction

nei·​ther ˈnē-t͟hər How to pronounce neither (audio)
also
ˈnī- How to pronounce neither (audio)
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 offspringG. 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 Neither the PUC nor the Legislature has a clear path to step in and amend the agreement in a way that would protect ratepayers from an IRS ruling. Mercury News Editorial Board, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2017
Adverb
The pseudo-election in #Russia is neither free nor fair, the result will surprise nobody. Bloomberg, Fortune Europe, 18 Mar. 2024 The Noon Against Putin protest was designed not only to denounce an election widely condemned as neither free nor fair, but also to demonstrate support for the fragmented, often demoralized critics of Putin and the war, many of whom are now living in exile. Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024 Many antiwar Russians, at home and in exile abroad, are unsure whether to take part in a sham election that is neither free nor fair. Valerie Hopkins, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Russia’s elections are neither free nor fair, and serve essentially as a formality to extend Putin’s term in power, according to independent bodies and observers both in and outside the country. Rob Picheta, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 That is not an ideal method: Some responding hands are neither strong nor weak. Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024 Kissinger and Pompidou worked out a mutually satisfactory compromise, which fully satisfied neither but gave both sides most of their highest priorities. Robert Hormats, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2024 The majority of the program participants are neither transgender nor nonbinary, the program spokesperson said. Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2024 The rule, like everything else, is neither hard nor fast, but odds are the team dominating on the ground will win the game. Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'neither.' 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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of neither was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near neither

Cite this Entry

“Neither.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neither. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

neither

1 of 3 pronoun
nei·​ther ˈnē-t͟hər How to pronounce neither (audio)
also
ˈnī- How to pronounce neither (audio)
: 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

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