neutral

/ˈnjuːtrəl/
adjectiveIntermediate
general

not taking sides in a conflict or disagreement

Switzerland has maintained a neutral stance in international conflicts for centuries.

Switzerland has avoided taking sides in wars and disputes.

💡

Often used in political, diplomatic, or legal contexts.

general

having no strong feelings or opinions

She gave a neutral response to the controversial topic.

She did not express strong agreement or disagreement.

💡

Can describe a person's attitude or a statement's tone.

general

neither positive nor negative; balanced

The review was neutral, neither praising nor criticizing the product.

The review was balanced and objective.

💡

Common in reviews, assessments, and evaluations.

Collocations

neutral stancea position of not taking sidesneutral tonea tone that is neither positive nor negativeneutral colorscolors like white, gray, or beige

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

neutral groundphrase
a place or situation where no one has an advantage
neutralizeverb
to make something neutral or ineffective

💡Pro Tip

Common Usage

Use 'neutral' when describing impartiality, balance, or lack of strong opinion.

Gold Rule

Avoid Confusion

Do not confuse 'neutral' with 'negative'; being neutral means neither positive nor negative.

📖Word Origin

From Latin 'neutralis', meaning 'of neither side', from 'neuter' (neither).

📝Usage Notes

Often used in contexts where fairness, balance, or impartiality is important, such as in law, politics, and journalism.

Word Breakdown

neu-
not
prefix
+
-tral
side
root
+
-al
relating to
suffix
English Dictionary