Neither — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

conjunction pronoun adjective adverb /ˈnē-t͟hər/ nei·ther

Meaning & Definition of Neither

Neither (conjunction)

  1. not either
  2. also not

Neither (pronoun)

  1. not the one or the other of two or more

Neither (adjective)

  1. not either

Neither (adverb)

  1. either
  2. similarly not, also not

Neither (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in none, no

    similar: no, none (archaic)
    opposite: any, each, every, all, several, various

Related Entry: Neither here nor there (phrase)

Neither here nor there is a different word from Neither. The synonyms below are for neither here nor there, not for neither.

  1. not having anything to do with the matter at hand

    "We are talking about what happened today and what you did yesterday is neither here nor there."

    similar: extraneous, immaterial, impertinent, inapplicable, inapposite, irrelative, irrelevant, beside the point
    related: incidental, peripheral, tangent, tangential, dead, moot, inconsequential, insignificant, unimportant, empty, inane, meaningless, pointless, senseless, useless, inappropriate, inapt, unsuitable
    opposite: applicable, apposite, apropos, germane, material, pertinent, pointed, relative, relevant
    near: important, meaningful, significant, sensible, useful, appropriate, apt, fit, suitable

  2. lacking importance

    "The time it takes is neither here nor there as long as it's done right."

    similar: fiddling, foolish, frivolous, incidental, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, little, Mickey Mouse, minor, minute, negligible, nugatory, slight, small, small-fry, trifling, trivial, unimportant
    related: jerkwater, one-horse, nickel-and-dime, paltry, petty, small-time, worthless, anonymous, nameless, obscure, uncelebrated, unknown
    opposite: big, consequential, eventful, important, major, material, meaningful, momentous, significant, substantial, unfrivolous, weighty
    near: decisive, fatal, fateful, chief, dominant, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, principal, distinctive, exceptional, impressive, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, valuable, worthwhile, worthy, distinguished, eminent, great, illustrious, preeminent, prestigious, famous, notorious, renowned, all-important, basic, essential, fundamental, key

Related Entry: Fish (noun)

Fish is a different word from Neither. The synonyms below are for fish, not for neither.

  1. a member of the human race

    "he's rather an odd fish"

    similar: baby, being, bird, bod (British), body, character, cookie, creature, customer, devil, duck, egg, face, guy, head, human, human being, individual, life, man, mortal, party, person, personage, scout, slob, sort, soul, specimen, stiff, thing, wight, son of man
    related: hominid, homo, humanoid, brother, fellow, fellowman, neighbor, celebrity, personality, self, somebody
    near: animal, beast, beastie, brute, critter

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Neither

The most common words with a similar meaning to Neither:

Archaic: none
no

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Neither

Words with the opposite meaning of Neither:

any, each, every, all, several, various

Origin & Etymology of Neither

Middle English, alteration (influenced by either) of nauther, nother, from Old English nāhwæther, nōther, from nā, nō not + hwæther which of two, whether

First known use: 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Neither

Words & Phrases Containing Neither

neither fish nor fowl, neither here nor there

Frequently Asked Questions about Neither

What does "Neither" mean?

"Neither" means not either. As an a conjunction, a pronoun, an adjective and an adverb, it is defined as: not either.

What is another word for "Neither"?

Other words for "Neither" include no and none. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Neither" you intend.

What is the opposite of "Neither"?

Antonyms of "Neither" include any, each, every, all, several and various.

Is "Neither" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Neither" can be used as a conjunction, a pronoun, an adjective and an adverb, depending on the context.

Is "Neither" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Neither" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Neither"?

"Neither" is pronounced /ˈnē-t͟hər/ and divided into syllables as nei·ther.

What is the origin of the word "Neither"?

"Neither" comes from Middle English, alteration (influenced by either) of nauther, nother, from Old English nāhwæther, nōther, from nā, nō not + hwæther which of two, whether. First known use: 12th century.

What is another word for "Neither" meaning "as in none, no"?

When "Neither" (adjective) means as in none, no, synonyms include no and none. Opposites in this sense include any, each, every and all.