neutral
NOO-truhl
/ˈnuːtrəl/
Not supporting or helping either side in a conflict, disagreement, etc.; impartial.
Neutrality often implies a lack of involvement or a refusal to take a side.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'neuter', which literally means 'neither one nor the other'. It was originally used in grammar to describe nouns that were neither masculine nor feminine.
Word relationships
- disinterested: Disinterested means having no personal stake in the outcome, while neutral means not taking a side.
- biased: Biased means having a strong preference for one side over the other.
Commonly confused with
- impartial: Neutrality is a position (not taking sides); impartiality is a quality (being fair to both sides).
Word family
- neutrality (noun): The state of not supporting or helping either side in a conflict.
- neutralize (verb): To render something ineffective or harmless.
Collocations
- neutral ground
- neutral observer
- remain neutral
Idioms & expressions
- on neutral ground
Example sentences
- "Switzerland remained neutral during both World Wars, refusing to join any military alliance." History
- "The reporter tried to remain neutral while interviewing the two rival politicians." Journalism
Memory hook
Neutral is like the 'N' gear in a car—you aren't going forward or backward; you're just sitting there. Neutral = Neither side.
When not to use
Avoid when you want to emphasize fairness; 'impartial' is often better for describing a fair judge.
Fun facts
- In physics, a neutron is a subatomic particle with no net electric charge—it is neutral.
Explore more words
neutrality, impartial, impartiality, unbiased, indifferent, nonpartisan
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