neutrality
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the state of not supporting any side in an argument or fight.
the quality or state of being impartial; a refusal to take part in a contest or dispute between others.
Simple“The journalist maintained her neutrality while reporting on the local election.”
In context“The mediator emphasized that his neutrality was essential for both parties to feel the negotiation process was fair and unbiased.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'of' or 'towards'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
the decision of a country to stay out of a war between other nations.
the formal status of a nation or government which refrains from participating in a conflict between other powers.
Simple“Switzerland is famous for its long history of neutrality during European wars.”
In context“The government issued a formal declaration of neutrality, hoping to protect its trade routes from being targeted by the warring factions.”
UsageCommonly used in the context of international law and diplomacy.
Teacher's tipLearners should distinguish this from 'pacifism'; neutrality is a political stance regarding a specific conflict, while pacifism is a moral opposition to all war.
Synonymsnon alignmentnon interventionAntonymsbelligerenceintervention - 03 C1 Advanced
the state of being neither an acid nor a base.
the state of a substance being chemically neutral, typically having a pH of 7.
Simple“The scientist tested the water to ensure its neutrality before starting the experiment.”
In context“Achieving chemical neutrality in the solution was a prerequisite for the subsequent reaction to occur without unwanted side effects.”
UsageUncountable in this scientific context.
SynonymsAntonymsacidityalkalinity - 04 C2 Proficiency
a state of being neither very good nor very bad.
a state of indifference in quality or character; mediocrity.
Simple“The critic dismissed the play for its dull neutrality of style.”
In context“The author lamented the neutrality of the era's art, claiming it lacked both the fire of passion and the coldness of true intellect.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is rarely encountered in modern English outside of historical literature.
SynonymsAntonyms
“The court struck down a previous ban on headscarves in primary schools in 2020 on the basis that it contravened the principle of Austria's religious neutrality.”
From Middle French neutralité, from Medieval Latin neutralitas. Morphologically neutral + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.