net neutrality

noun

: the idea, principle, or requirement that Internet service providers should or must treat all Internet data as the same regardless of its kind, source, or destination
… a philosophical contest that's being fought under the banner of "net neutrality," a slogan that inspires rhetorical devotion but eludes precise definition. Broadly, it means everything on the Internet should be equally accessible—that the Internet should be a place where great ideas compete on equal terms with big money.Sarah Rabil

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The order is akin to net neutrality for railroads. Paul Gessing, National Review, 23 Sep. 2021 Other relevant orders call for the restoration of net neutrality and applying more scrutiny to corporate mergers, which may prevent a tech giant from swallowing up the next WhatsApp or Slack, formerly insurgent chat/social media platforms that were absorbed by Facebook and Salesforce. Jacob Silverman, The New Republic, 9 July 2021 In his description of how tech companies enact discriminatory pricing, Lynn reflects on the principles behind common carrier rules, the end of net neutrality, the rise of tech monopolization, and the future of our democracy under these troubled circumstances. Barry C. Lynn, Harper’s Magazine , 18 Sep. 2020 According to Bloomberg Law, Democrats plan to reinstate net neutrality and expand broadband subsidies. Makena Kelly, The Verge, 21 Jan. 2021 Despite having a largely Republican legislature, as governor Bullock has expanded Medicaid, frozen college tuition, protected net neutrality, and passed laws to protect the LGBTQ+ community. Renae Reints, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2019 This device-agnostic coordination is similar to net neutrality in data communications. IEEE Spectrum, 29 Jan. 2022 Today, African countries lack specific laws on net neutrality, unlike European countries which have advanced legislation on net-neutrality. Daniel Akinmade Emejulu, Quartz, 5 Oct. 2021 California enacted its open-internet law in September 2018, months after the U.S. government under then-President Donald Trump eliminated national net neutrality protections. Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2021 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

2003, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of net neutrality was in 2003

Dictionary Entries Near net neutrality

Cite this Entry

“Net neutrality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/net%20neutrality. Accessed 29 May. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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