neutrality
noo-TRAL-ih-tee
/njuːˈtrælɪti/
The state of not supporting or helping either side in a conflict, disagreement, or competition; impartiality.
Stresses the complete absence of bias or favoritism, which is the foundational requirement for any referee or umpire.
The story behind the word. The word comes from the Latin 'neuter', which literally translates to 'neither of two'. It was historically used in grammar to describe nouns that were neither masculine nor feminine, and later adopted into politics and sports to describe those who refuse to take a side.
Word relationships
- impartiality: Impartiality emphasizes fair judgment without prejudice, while neutrality can also refer to staying out of a conflict entirely.
- objectivity: Objectivity focuses on making decisions based on facts rather than feelings, whereas neutrality focuses on not taking sides.
- bias: Bias is a predisposition or prejudice in favor of one side over another.
- partiality: Partiality is a natural liking or favoritism for one party.
Commonly confused with
- neutralization: Neutralization is the act of making something ineffective or harmless, while neutrality is the state of being unbiased.
Word family
- neutral (adjective): Not helping or supporting either side in a conflict.
- neutralize (verb): To render something ineffective or harmless.
Collocations
- strict neutrality
- maintain neutrality
- question someone's neutrality
Example sentences
- "To ensure a fair contest, the referee must maintain absolute neutrality throughout the match." Referee ethics
- "The league defended the neutrality of the officiating crew despite complaints from the home team's fans." Sports governance
Memory hook
Think of a car in 'neutral' gear—it doesn't move forward or backward; it stays right in the middle. Staying in the middle gear.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'apathy' or 'indifference'; a neutral official is highly engaged and active, just unbiased.
Fun facts
- In professional sports, officials are often barred from officiating games involving teams from their hometowns to preserve the appearance of absolute neutrality.
Related words
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