neither

NY-thur/ˈnaɪ.ðɚ/UKNY-thuh/ˈnaɪ.ðə/

5 meanings of neither

1
with norconjunction
Used together with 'nor' to indicate that two alternatives are both excluded or untrue.
Neither the manager nor her assistant knew where the missing files had gone.
The new policy neither raised wages nor reduced the working hours.
UsagePair it with nor: neither tea nor coffee (not ~~incorrect: neither tea or coffee~~). Put the same kind of word after each.
2
not either (alone)pronoun
Not the one and not the other of two, used on its own in place of a noun, often followed by "of" (neither of them).
Both routes were flooded, so neither was safe to drive.
The committee reviewed two designs and approved neither.
UsageOften neither of us, neither of them, usually with a singular verb (neither is). For three or more, use none.
Oppositeboth
3
not either (with thing)determiner
Not one and not the other of two people or things; not either of a pair.
Neither candidate received enough votes to win the seat outright.
We toured two apartments on Saturday, but neither place had enough room for the piano.
UsageComes before a singular noun, usually with a singular verb: neither answer is right. For more than two, use none of.
Oppositeboth
4
likewise notadverb
Used to show that a preceding negative statement applies equally to another person or thing.
The senior staff received no warning, and neither did the new hires.
If she won't sign the agreement, then neither will her business partner.
UsagePut the helping verb before the subject: neither do I, and neither did the new hires. In speech, me neither is common.
Oppositeso

Less common meaning

5
conjunctionarchaic
Used in place of 'nor' to add a further negative statement, now found mainly in older or literary English.
The old squire would not yield his land, neither would he hear any talk of selling.
But here thou canst not handle aught, neither make the folk ware of thee, not though thou shout thy throat hoarse.
1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros: A Romance
UsageFollows an earlier negative, with the helping verb first: neither would he listen. In modern writing, nor is usual.
Note
E. R. Eddison uses it in The Worm Ouroboros (1922), where a martlet tells Lessingham, who walks unseen on Mercury: "thou canst not handle aught, neither make the folk ware of thee." Modern English would put nor in its place.

Practice

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Origin

It goes back to Old English 'nāwþer', a shortened form of 'nāhwæþer' (that is, 'no' + 'whether'), which gave Middle English 'nauther'; that form was reshaped to match 'either', giving 'neiþer'. Latin 'neuter' ('neither') is comparable, and on the surface the word reads as 'not' + 'either'.