neither
/ˈnaɪðər/determinerpronoun★Intermediate
formalinformal
Not one and not the other of two things or people
Neither of the candidates impressed the voters.
The voters were unimpressed by both candidates.
She liked neither the red dress nor the blue one.
She didn't like either the red dress or the blue one.
💡
Often used with 'nor' to connect negative clauses.
Collocations
neither here nor thereirrelevant or unimportantneither one nor the othernot one and not the other
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
neither here nor therephrase
irrelevant or unimportant
neither one nor the otherphrase
not one and not the other
💡Pro Tip
Usage with 'nor'
'Neither' is often paired with 'nor' to connect negative clauses, especially in formal writing.
⚡Gold Rule
Subject-Verb Agreement
'Neither' is singular and requires a singular verb (e.g., 'Neither of the options is acceptable.').
📖Word Origin
From Middle English 'neither', from Old English 'nāhwǣther', from 'nā' (not) + 'hwǣther' (which of two).
📝Usage Notes
Often used with 'nor' to connect negative clauses (e.g., 'Neither did I see him, nor did I hear from him.').
Word Breakdown
neither
not one and not the other
rootEnglish Dictionary