neutral Hear it!

neutral Definition

neu·tral (no̵̅o̅′trəl, nyo̵̅o̅′-)

adjective

    1. not taking part in either side of a dispute or quarrel
    2. not taking part in a war; giving no active aid to any belligerent
  2. of, belonging to, or characteristic of a nation not taking part in a war or not aligning itself with either side in a power struggle
  3. belonging to neither extreme in type, kind, etc.; without strongly marked characteristics; indefinite, indifferent, middling, etc.
  4. having little or no decided color; not vivid beige is a neutral color
  5. Biol. neuter
  6. Chem. giving neither acid nor alkaline reaction
  7. Elec. neither negative nor positive; uncharged
  8. Phonet. articulated with the tongue relaxed and in the mid-central position, as the vowel in most unstressed syllables, the (ə)

Etymology: Fr < ML neutralis < L, of neuter gender < neuter: see neuter

noun

  1. a nation not taking part in a war or conflict; neutral power
  2. a neutral person or a citizen of a neutral country
  3. a neutral color
  4. Mech. a disengaged position of gears, in which they do not transmit power from the engine to the operating parts

Related Forms:

neutral Synonyms

neutral

modif.

  1. Not fighting

    noncombatant, noncombative, nonpartisan, on the side lines, nonparticipating, inactive, disengaged, uninvolved, bystanding, standing by, inert, on the fence*.

    Antonyms engaged*, involved*, active*. *

  2. Without opinion

    unbiased, open-minded, disinterested, impartial; see indifferent 1, unconcerned.

  3. Without distinctive color

    drab, indeterminate, vague; see dull 2.

neutral Finance Definition
A rating used by Wall Street analysts. Even though neutral implies the lack of an opinion, a neutral rating is a code phrase for a sell rating. The word sell is rarely used in order to avoid offending clients and preventing the investment bank that the analyst works for from winning future lucrative banking business from the client. The term market perform also may be used to indicate a neutral opinion.
neutral Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • fiscally: Whilst this approach is not fiscally neutral the returns are high.
  • electrically: Free radicals An electrically neutral molecule with an unpaired electron in the outer orbit.
  • morally: Unlike the republican ideal of ' civic virtue ' then, ' social capital ' is morally neutral.
  • politically: Instead we must pursue education as if it is some sort of politically neutral activity.
  • ideologically: But at least the Thracians were considered ideologically neutral because they hadn't clashed with anyone in the region.
  • ethically: The predominant attitude among scientists is that science is ethically neutral.

Preposition: with

  • respect: Importantly, datasets and document collections are found not to be neutral with respect to the property of homogeneity, even for function words.

Modifies a noun

  • grassland: Results of a survey which found that only 344 ha of neutral grassland of high conservation interest survived.
  • pH: What is the overall net charge at neutral pH?
  • buoyancy: Maintaining neutral buoyancy in a dry suit requires different skills than maintaining buoyancy in a wet suit.
  • stance: Warwick University has recently voted for its student union to hold a neutral stance regarding abortion.
  • decor: The property has been well maintained and is bright & airy with neutral decor and floor coverings.
  • arbiter: The Nox female, Lya, has agreed to be the neutral arbiter.

Used with adjective complement

  • remain: You should remain neutral on the issue of whether or not God exists.
  • stay: Staying neutral For example: That film should be banned.
  • gender: The following summarized findings from the four questions above provide interesting insights into how trade and WTO rules are not gender neutral.
  • appear: They fear a loss of authority if the state doesn't appear neutral.
  • cost: The costs of compliance in respect of the threshold is likely to be cost neutral in many respects.

Preposition: in

  • conflict: It is morally impossible to remain neutral in this conflict.
  • respect: The costs of compliance in respect of the threshold is likely to be cost neutral in many respects.
neutral Quotes

   The people of the United States are drawn from many nations, and chiefly from the nations now at war. Some will wish one nation, others another, to succeed in this monumental struggle. I venture to speak a solemn word of warning. The United States must be neutral in fact as well as in name during these days that are to try men's souls.We must be impartial in thought as well as in action.

—Wilson, (Thomas) Woodrow