Neutral Means Neither of the Two
Neutral means taking no side. The Latin root says exactly that, and the same word covers gearboxes, colours and countries.
Neutral means not favouring either side. Latin *neuter* means neither of two, so a neutral country, a neutral referee and a neutral gear all share one idea: engaged with nothing. In colour, neutral means without a strong hue; in chemistry, neither acid nor alkaline.
- Taking no side. *A neutral observer.*
- Not strongly coloured. *Neutral tones.*
- Neither acid nor alkaline. *A neutral pH of 7.*
- A gear position. *Leave it in neutral.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adjective | neutral | A neutral stance. |
| Noun | neutral | Shift into neutral. |
| Noun | neutrality | Armed neutrality. |
| Verb | neutralise | Neutralise the acid. |
| Adverb | neutrally | Phrased neutrally. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Switzerland maintained its neutrality.A formal international status.
- Paint the room in neutral colours.Beige, grey, off-white.
- The solution is neutral at pH 7.Chemistry.
Neutral in different fields
- Politics — not taking a side in a conflict
- Chemistry — pH 7, neither acid nor base
- Electricity — the return conductor in a circuit
- Mechanics — a gear engaging nothing
- Design — colours without a dominant hue
From Latin *neutralis*, from *neuter*, neither, from *ne*, not, and *uter*, either of two. The grammatical *neuter* comes from the same word.
Neutral or impartial?
Impartial means judging fairly between sides. Neutral means not being on either side at all. A referee should be both.
What does carbon neutral mean?
That emissions released are balanced by an equivalent amount removed or avoided, so the net addition is zero.