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
However, instead of a more mature look, Fine opted for neutrals, befitting a 15-year-old Brandy at the time. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 12 Mar. 2024 Choose from neutrals like white, gray, and tan, or opt for more vivid solids like mint green and lavender. Jamie Allison Sanders, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 There are 13 colorways to choose from, ranging from the monochrome black, white, gray, and khaki combinations that are perfect for lovers of chic neutrals, while the green, rust, teal, and plum might blend in better with a wardrobe of bold colors. Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2024 For a simple farmhouse layout, painting everything white makes the best backdrop for layering neutrals. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2024 Avoid wearing neutrals like black, white or grey, as these colors will blend in with the eclipse's shadow. Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 24 Feb. 2024 Think urban, playful, and eclectic design brought together with bold and lively patterns and muted neutrals. Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Jan. 2024 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
Adjective
Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, the IOC announced in December that Russian and Belarusian athletes will only be eligible to compete as individual neutral athletes at this year’s Paris Games. George Ramsay, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024 For a lot of us, however, black is very much a neutral. Charlie Teather, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2024 Policymakers from countries that support a neutral, peaceful Antarctica seem to assume that cooperation there is a given. Elizabeth Buchanan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024 The smooth, pale marble depicts the face and neck of a woman with wavy hair and a neutral expression. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Mar. 2024 Even sites of military significance can be of interest to neutral or friendly entities—including the Ukrainian government itself, media organizations, and humanitarian groups that need accurate pictures of the conflict to do their work. Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 18 Mar. 2024 At stake for Lego is to find a way to reach its promise of using sustainable materials in its plastic building blocks by 2032 and becoming net carbon neutral in 2050. Christian Wienberg, Fortune Europe, 18 Mar. 2024 To set it up, Arnold says to position it in a way that enables your elbows to be between 80 to 100 degrees while typing, adding that a desk with a forward slope helps maintain a neutral neck. Claire Peltier, ABC News, 18 Mar. 2024 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

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 28 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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