neutral

1 of 2

noun

neu·​tral ˈnü-trəl How to pronounce neutral (audio)
ˈnyü-
Synonyms of neutral
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)
: 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
neutrally
ˈnü-trə-lē How to pronounce neutral (audio)
ˈnyü-
adverb
neutralness noun

Synonyms of neutral

Relevance

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
If your handbag collection already has multiple black and brown neutrals, consider this your cue to embrace the elegance of burgundy. — Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 31 July 2026 With 26 different colors and patterns—including classic neutrals, jewel tones, and playful stripes—there’s a version for every outfit. — Kate Donovan, Southern Living, 30 July 2026
Adjective
In 2024, the IOC and IPC announced that Russian and Belarusian athletes would be allowed to compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics and 2024 Summer Paralympics, although as neutral athletes. — Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 The buttery yellow is soft enough to feel like a neutral, though a white version is equally timeless if your palette leans quieter. — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for neutral

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

Phrases Containing neutral

Browse Nearby Words

neutercane
neutral
neutral axis
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Neutral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neutral. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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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
-trə-lē How to pronounce neutral (audio)
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

Nglish: Translation of neutral for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about neutral

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