neutral Meaning & Definition
What Does Neutral Mean?
As an adjective, neutral means Not taking sides in a conflict such as war; nonaligned. It is also used to mean Favoring neither the supporting nor opposing viewpoint of a topic of debate; unbiased. As a noun, it means A nonaligned state, or a member of such a state.
Neutral: Key Facts
| Part of speech | adjective, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈnjuː.tɹəl// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | indifferent, objective and inert |
| Antonyms | positive, electropositive and electronegative |
| Plural | neutrals |
| Comparative / superlative | more neutral, most neutral |
Neutral Definition (Adjective)
- Not taking sides in a conflict such as war; nonaligned.
- Favoring neither the supporting nor opposing viewpoint of a topic of debate; unbiased.
I am neutral regarding the issue of gay marriage.
- Neither positive nor negative.
- Not biased; viewing situations objectively in a way that is neither positive nor negative.
a neutral person
- Neither beneficial nor harmful.
- Having no sex; neuter.
- Having no obvious colour; gray.
- Neither positive nor negative; possessing no charge or equivalent positive and negative charge such that there is no imbalance.
- Having a pH of or near 7, neither acidic nor alkaline.
- Of an alcoholic drink, having been fermented and distilled but with no additives.
- Having an alignment that is situated between two notable possibilities, such as between good and evil, or between chaotic and lawful.
Neutral as a Noun
- A nonaligned state, or a member of such a state.
- A person who takes neither side in a dispute.
- An individual or entity serving as an arbitrator or adjudicator.
- A neutral hue.
- The position of a set of gears in which power cannot be transmitted to the drive mechanism.
Put it in neutral, and we'll push it out of the garage.
- An electrical terminal or conductor which has zero or close to zero voltage with respect to the ground.
Synonyms of Neutral
Antonyms of Neutral
Neutral in a Sentence
I am neutral regarding the issue of gay marriage.
a neutral person
Put it in neutral, and we'll push it out of the garage.
Word Forms & Grammar
neutral (comparative more neutral, superlative most neutral)
neutral (countable and uncountable, plural neutrals)
Origin of Neutral
From Middle French neutral (compare modern French neutre), from Latin neutrālis. By surface analysis, neuter + -al.
How to Pronounce Neutral
Neutral is pronounced //ˈnjuː.tɹəl// and has 1 syllable.
Neutral: Your Questions Answered
Is neutral an adjective or a noun?
Neutral is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for neutral?
Words with a similar meaning to neutral include indifferent, objective and inert. See the full list of neutral synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of neutral?
Words opposite in meaning to neutral are positive, electropositive, electronegative and negative.
What is the plural of neutral?
The plural of neutral is neutrals.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of neutral?
The comparative form is more neutral and the superlative form is most neutral.