neutral

noun

neu·tral | \ ˈnü-trəl

, ˈnyü-\

Definition of neutral

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

adjective

Definition of neutral (Entry 2 of 2)

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

3a : not decided or pronounced as to characteristics : indifferent

b(1) : achromatic

(2) : nearly achromatic

c(1) : neuter sense 3

(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

Other Words from neutral Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about neutral

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Synonyms & Antonyms for neutral

Synonyms: Adjective

nonpartisan

Antonyms: Adjective

allied, confederate

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

The collection featured colors of soothing white, mix-and-match green tones, sky blue and denim along with neutrals black and brown. — Washington Post, "Sunnei to Palm Angels, streetwear in fashion focus in Milan," 16 June 2019 Use deep jewel tones for richness, bright accents for a sunny and whimsical approach and a mix of neutrals for a soft, comfortable vibe. — Ap Mcclatchy, The Mercury News, "Are you a pillow lover or minimalist?," 6 June 2019 When styling for the office, keep it from feeling fantastical by pairing with neutrals. — Leah Melby Clinton, Marie Claire, "Small Closet? 3 Buys That Go the Distance," 29 Mar. 2019 Try a similar look by mixing neons with neutrals, or take a tip from Ashley Graham and embrace color-blocking with primary shades. — Anny Choi, Vogue, "Neon Green Is Clearly Winter’s Hottest Trend," 11 Jan. 2019 The Bille wedge has a PVC strap calling back to the Shirley, the Keith comes in our classic croc embossed leather and the colorways sit with our Spring RTW pallet—a balance between neutrals and pops (of color). — Kerry Pieri, Harper's BAZAAR, "Staud Launches Shoes and We're in Love," 27 Feb. 2019 Try these clingy knitted numbers in easy neutrals or muted stripes. — Vogue, "These 24 Dresses Are a No-Fuss Solution to Spring Style," 31 Mar. 2019 The collection includes pillowcase sets, core sheet sets, and duvet covers, all available in three gorgeous neutrals that make mixing and matching easy as ever. — Lucia Tonelli, ELLE Decor, "Brooklinen’s New Cashmere Bedding Will Make You Never Want to Leave Your Bed," 8 Feb. 2019 On Lively’s eyes was a subtle, natural look created by light neutrals (pinks and beiges) of a powdery texture from Dior 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow in 537. — Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, "How to Get Blake Lively's Hair and Makeup From A Simple Favor," 14 Sep. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

They are considered to possess scientific, neutral, and objective assumptions. — Eshe Nelson, Quartz, "Economics needs to do more than attract women to solve its gender problem," 11 June 2019 Apple, for example, has laid out plans to become net cash neutral, with an equal amount of cash and debt. — Maria Armental, WSJ, "U.S. Corporate Cash Piles Drop to Three-Year Low," 10 June 2019 Is positive—or even neutral—coverage of anyone connected to the Trump administration really ever an acceptable trade for access? — Alex Shephard, The New Republic, "Is There a Right Way to Cover the Trump White House?," 6 June 2019 Some called for all leopard-print-midi-skirt devotees to be left alone because the piece is practically a neutral and everybody ought to own one. — Tara Gonzalez, Glamour, "Yeah, You Really Do Need a Leopard-Print Midi Skirt," 30 May 2019 The male body, on the other hand, is simply neutral—an assumed state of being. — National Geographic, "Could a woman walk around the world today?," 5 Apr. 2019 The Green palette, on the other hand, provides a generous dose of duo chrome with six iridescent shades, balanced with three mattes — some of which are surprisingly neutral. — Marci Robin, Allure, "Exclusive: Huda Kattan Talks Inspiration and Tips for Huda Beauty’s New Neon Obsessions Palettes," 28 May 2019 Several dangerous things can happen, such as the gear selector indicating the wrong gear or a driver switching off the vehicle in park and exiting with the key when the transmission is actually in neutral. — Clifford Atiyeh, Car and Driver, "Ford Recalls 260,000 More Fusion Sedans for Breaking Shifter Cables," 15 May 2019 Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson has had his 20-game suspension reduced to 14 by a neutral arbitrator and is eligible to play immediately. — Stephen Whyno, The Seattle Times, "Caps’ Wilson has suspension cut to 14 games by arbitrator," 13 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'neutral.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near neutral

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Last Updated

22 Jun 2019

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Time Traveler for neutral

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

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More Definitions for neutral

neutral

noun

English Language Learners Definition of neutral

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a color that is not bright or strong : a neutral color

: the position of the gears in a car, truck, etc., when they do not touch each other and power from the engine does not move the wheels

: a person, country, etc., that does not support either side of an argument, fight, war, etc.

neutral

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of neutral (Entry 2 of 2)

: not supporting either side of an argument, fight, war, etc.

: not supporting one political view over another

: not connected with either side involved in a war, contest, etc.

See the full definition for neutral in the English Language Learners Dictionary

neutral

noun

neu·tral | \ ˈnü-trəl

, ˈnyü-\

Kids Definition of neutral

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a person or group that does not favor either side in a quarrel, contest, or war

2 : a grayish color or color that is not bright

3 : a position of gears (as in the transmission of a motor vehicle) in which they are not in contact

neutral

adjective

Kids Definition of neutral (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : not favoring either side in a quarrel, contest, or war

2 : of or relating to a country that doesn't favor either side in a dispute neutral territory

3 : not strong in opinion or feeling My feelings toward work are neutral.

4 : having a color that is not bright : grayish neutral walls

5 : neither acid nor basic

6 : not electrically charged

neutral

noun

neu·tral | \ ˈn(y)ü-trəl

Medical Definition of neutral

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a neutral color

neutral

adjective

Medical Definition of neutral (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : not decided or pronounced as to characteristics

2a : 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

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neutral

noun

neu·tral

Legal Definition of neutral

(Entry 1 of 2)

: one that is neutral specifically : an impartial person used in alternative dispute resolution to help resolve or to determine the matters in dispute