# neuter

/ˈnutɝ/ (US) · /njˈuːtɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/neuter
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

a word or a person that does not have a gender. In grammar, it describes a word that does not change to show if it is male, female, or neither.

For teachers: a grammatical category or a person or thing that is neither male nor female. In a linguistic context, it refers to a noun or pronoun that does not distinguish between genders.

## Examples

- The word 'book' is a neuter noun in English.
- In many languages, the neuter gender is used for objects or abstract concepts that do not have a biological sex.
- The transition from a masculine to a neuter form in the plural indicates a shift in the speaker's perspective toward the subject matter.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.