Neutral — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈnü-trəl/ neu·tral

Meaning & Definition of Neutral

Neutral (noun)

  1. one that is neutral
  2. a neutral color
  3. a position of disengagement (as of gears)

Neutral (adjective)

  1. not engaged on either side; specifically, not aligned with a political or ideological grouping
  2. of or relating to a neutral state or power
  3. not decided or pronounced as to characteristics, indifferent

Neutral (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not favoring or joined to either side in a quarrel, contest, or war

    "Sweden remained neutral during World War II, refusing to join either side in the conflict"

    similar: nonpartisan, on the fence
    related: nonaligned, hands-off, noninterventionist, autonomous, independent, sovereign, unaffiliated, nonbelligerent, individualistic, disinterested, evenhanded, fair, impartial, indifferent, unbiased, uninfluenced, unprejudiced, bipartisan
    opposite: allied, confederate
    near: biased, partial, partisan, prejudiced, unfair, affiliated, associated, federated, belligerent

  2. lacking in distinctive features or qualities

    "the hero is the novel's only fully fleshed person, all the others being rather neutral characters who are just there to advance the plot"

    similar: beige, characterless, faceless, featureless, indistinctive, noncommittal, nondescript, vanilla
    related: boring, drab, dreary, dry, dull, flat, humdrum, leaden, monotonous, pedestrian, stodgy, stuffy, tame, tedious, tiresome, tiring, uninteresting, wearisome, weary, wearying
    near: arresting, bold, catchy, dramatic, emphatic, eye-catching, flamboyant, showy, splashy, striking

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Neutral

The most common words with a similar meaning to Neutral:

nonpartisan, beige, characterless, faceless, featureless, indistinctive, noncommittal, nondescript, vanilla, on the fence

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Neutral

Words with the opposite meaning of Neutral:

allied, confederate

Related Words for Neutral

nonaligned, hands-off, noninterventionist, autonomous, independent, sovereign, unaffiliated, nonbelligerent, individualistic, disinterested, evenhanded, fair, impartial, indifferent, unbiased, uninfluenced, unprejudiced, bipartisan, boring, drab, dreary, dry, dull, flat, humdrum, leaden, monotonous, pedestrian, stodgy, stuffy

Near Antonyms of Neutral

biased, partial, partisan, prejudiced, unfair, affiliated, associated, federated, belligerent, arresting, bold, catchy, dramatic, emphatic, eye-catching, flamboyant, showy, splashy, striking

Word Forms of Neutral

Derived words: neutrally (adverb), neutralness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Neutral

Middle English neuterall mutually neutralizing, from Medieval Latin *neutralis, back-formation from neutralitas middle ground, from Latin neutralis neuter, from neutr-, neuter

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Neutral

Words & Phrases Containing Neutral

neutral red, neutral spirits, neutral zone, day-neutral, gender-neutral, the neutral zone

Frequently Asked Questions about Neutral

What does "Neutral" mean?

"Neutral" means one that is neutral. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: one that is neutral. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Neutral"?

Other words for "Neutral" include nonpartisan, beige, characterless, faceless, featureless, indistinctive, noncommittal and nondescript. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Neutral" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Neutral"?

There are 48 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Neutral". Common alternatives include nonpartisan, beige, characterless, faceless, featureless, indistinctive, noncommittal, nondescript, vanilla and on the fence.

What is the opposite of "Neutral"?

Antonyms of "Neutral" include allied and confederate. Near antonyms include biased, partial, partisan and prejudiced.

How do you use "Neutral" in a sentence?

Examples of "Neutral" in a sentence: "Sweden remained neutral during World War II, refusing to join either side in the conflict"; "the hero is the novel's only fully fleshed person, all the others being rather neutral characters who are just there to advance the plot".

Is "Neutral" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Neutral" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Neutral" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Neutral" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Neutral"?

"Neutral" is pronounced /ˈnü-trəl/ and divided into syllables as neu·tral.