# neutral

/ˈnutɹəɫ/ (US) · /njˈuːtɹəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/neutral
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. not taking sides

adjective · CEFR B2

not supporting any side in an argument, competition, or war.

For teachers: refraining from taking part in a conflict or supporting any particular side; impartial and nonaligned.

- Switzerland remained neutral during the major wars of the twentieth century.
- The journalist maintained a neutral tone throughout the interview, refusing to let her personal opinions influence the questions she asked the candidate.

### 2. chemistry/science

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

neither acidic nor alkaline, with a pH of exactly 7.

For teachers: possessing a pH value of approximately 7.0 at 25 degrees Celsius, indicating a balance of hydrogen and hydroxide ions.

- Pure water is neutral and has a pH level of seven.
- The experiment required a neutral solution to ensure that the chemical reaction was not affected by acidity or alkalinity.

### 3. physics/electricity

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

having no electrical charge, or having equal positive and negative charges.

For teachers: carrying no net electric charge; possessing an equal number of protons and electrons.

- Neutrons are neutral particles found inside the center of an atom.
- The object returned to a neutral state after the excess static electricity was discharged through the copper wire.

### 4. colours

adjective · CEFR B2

having very little colour, such as grey, beige, or white.

For teachers: lacking strong or distinctive colour; typically used to describe shades like grey, cream, or tan that coordinate easily with others.

- We decided to paint the living room a neutral sandy colour.
- The interior designer recommended a neutral palette for the walls to allow the vibrant artwork to remain the focal point of the room.

### 5. gears

noun · CEFR B2

the position of the gears in a car where the engine is running but the wheels do not move.

For teachers: the configuration of a transmission system in which the engine is disconnected from the driven parts.

- Put the car in neutral and pull the handbrake before you get out.
- The driver left the engine idling in neutral while waiting for the heavy freight train to pass the level crossing.

### 6. a person or country

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a person or a country that does not take sides in a fight or war.

For teachers: an individual, entity, or nation that does not participate in a controversy or conflict.

- The meeting was held in a third country that was a known neutral.
- As a lifelong neutral in local politics, he was the perfect candidate to chair the town hall debate on the controversial new development.

## Examples

- The country remained a neutral during the long war.
- The mediator acted as a neutral to help both companies reach a fair agreement.
- By shifting the car into neutral while waiting at the long traffic light, the driver reduced the strain on the engine and saved a small amount of fuel.

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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.