neutral
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.not supporting any side in an argument, competition, or war.
adj.refraining from taking part in a conflict or supporting any particular side; impartial and nonaligned.
Simple“Switzerland remained neutral during the major wars of the twentieth century.”
In context“The journalist maintained a neutral tone throughout the interview, refusing to let her personal opinions influence the questions she asked the candidate.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.neither acidic nor alkaline, with a pH of exactly 7.
adj.possessing a pH value of approximately 7.0 at 25 degrees Celsius, indicating a balance of hydrogen and hydroxide ions.
Simple“Pure water is neutral and has a pH level of seven.”
In context“The experiment required a neutral solution to ensure that the chemical reaction was not affected by acidity or alkalinity.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.having no electrical charge, or having equal positive and negative charges.
adj.carrying no net electric charge; possessing an equal number of protons and electrons.
Simple“Neutrons are neutral particles found inside the center of an atom.”
In context“The object returned to a neutral state after the excess static electricity was discharged through the copper wire.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.having very little colour, such as grey, beige, or white.
adj.lacking strong or distinctive colour; typically used to describe shades like grey, cream, or tan that coordinate easily with others.
Simple“We decided to paint the living room a neutral sandy colour.”
In context“The interior designer recommended a neutral palette for the walls to allow the vibrant artwork to remain the focal point of the room.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the position of the gears in a car where the engine is running but the wheels do not move.
n.the configuration of a transmission system in which the engine is disconnected from the driven parts.
Simple“Put the car in neutral and pull the handbrake before you get out.”
In context“The driver left the engine idling in neutral while waiting for the heavy freight train to pass the level crossing.”
Synonyms - 06 C1 Advanced
n.a person or a country that does not take sides in a fight or war.
n.an individual, entity, or nation that does not participate in a controversy or conflict.
Simple“The meeting was held in a third country that was a known neutral.”
In context“As a lifelong neutral in local politics, he was the perfect candidate to chair the town hall debate on the controversial new development.”
Synonymsnon combatantarbitratorAntonyms
Usage neutral word
“Yet women account for only 28% of those trips, a 2023 survey found – a statistic that city officials are looking to address as part of their bid to become carbon neutral by 2050.”
“While the stories of these patients are important, they are not neutral samples.”
From Middle French neutral (compare modern French neutre), from Latin neutrālis. By surface analysis, neuter + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.