# neutral

Pronunciation: US say "NOO-truhl" /ˈn(j)uːtɹəl/; UK say "NYOO-truhl" /ˈnjuːtɹəl/

## Adjective

1. Favoring neither side of a debate; not biased toward one position or the other.
   - Simple: Not taking one side in an argument, and fair to both.
   - _The moderator kept her questions neutral so neither candidate gained an edge._
   - _He gave a neutral assessment of the proposal, praising and criticizing it in equal measure._
2. Not taking either side in a conflict such as a war; nonaligned.
   - Simple: Not joining either side in a war or fight between others.
   - _The nation declared itself neutral and refused to send troops to either alliance._
   - _Neutral states often host peace talks because both parties trust them._
4. Neither positive nor negative; standing midway between two opposite values or attitudes.
   - Simple: Neither good nor bad, but somewhere in the middle.
   - _The report's neutral tone avoided both praise and blame._
   - _On the rating scale, three marks the neutral midpoint._
5. Neither beneficial nor harmful in its effect.
   - Simple: Neither helpful nor harmful in its effect.
   - _Researchers found the additive to be neutral, with no measurable benefit or risk._
   - _The policy proved economically neutral, neither boosting nor slowing growth._
6. Having no obvious or strong color; grayish.
   - Simple: Having no strong color, like a plain gray.
   - _The designer chose a neutral palette of soft grays and off-whites._
   - _His suit was a neutral gray that suited almost any occasion._
8. Possessing no net electric charge, either from having no charge or from balanced positive and negative charge.
   - Simple: Having no electric charge, or having equal positive and negative charge.
   - _Neutrons are neutral, which lets them slip into a nucleus without being repelled._
   - _When the atom gains an extra electron, it is no longer neutral._
9. Having a pH at or near 7; neither acidic nor alkaline.
   - Simple: Neither acidic nor basic, with a pH near 7.
   - _Distilled water is close to neutral at room temperature._
   - _The solution turned neutral once enough base was added to cancel the acid._
13. Free from bias; viewing a situation objectively, favoring neither a positive nor a negative judgment.
   - Simple: Not taking sides, and looking at things fairly without good or bad feelings.
   - _A good moderator remains neutral, giving equal weight to opposing arguments._
   - _Researchers kept their tone neutral to avoid influencing the participants' responses._
15. Lacking functional sex organs or sexual characteristics; sexless or neuter.
   - Simple: Having no male or female parts and making no seeds or offspring.
   - _The showy ray florets of the hydrangea are neutral and produce no seed._
   - _Botanists noted that the plant's neutral flowers exist mainly to attract pollinators to the fertile ones._
16. In role-playing games, having a moral or ethical alignment positioned between two extremes, such as between good and evil or lawful and chaotic.
   - Simple: In games, having a side that sits between good and bad, or between order and chaos.
   - _The druid stayed neutral, refusing to favor either the lawful knights or the chaotic raiders._
   - _Many players find a neutral character freeing, since no strict code dictates every choice._
17. Of an alcoholic drink, having been fermented and distilled but left without any added flavorings, coloring, or other ingredients.
   - Simple: Of a drink, made by fermenting and distilling but with nothing else added.
   - _Distillers blend the gin botanicals into a neutral spirit before bottling._
   - _A clean, neutral vodka carries almost no taste of its own._

## Noun

3. The gear position in which the engine's power cannot reach the wheels or drive mechanism.
   - Simple: The gear setting where the engine does not turn the wheels.
   - _She left the transmission in neutral so the car could roll freely down the ramp._
   - _Slipping into neutral on a downhill stretch saves no real fuel in modern cars._
7. One who takes no side in a dispute between others.
   - Simple: Someone who does not pick a side in an argument.
   - _The talks broke down until a respected neutral was brought in to mediate._
   - _He served as a neutral, listening to both parties without favoring either._
10. A nation that aligns with neither side in a conflict, or a citizen belonging to one.
   - Simple: A country that stays out of a war and does not join either side, or someone from that country.
   - _During the war, Switzerland remained a neutral and refused to send troops to either alliance._
   - _The neutrals at the conference urged both sides to negotiate._
11. A muted color such as gray, beige, or cream that lacks strong hue and pairs easily with other shades.
   - Simple: A color like gray, beige, or cream that has no strong tint and goes with almost anything.
   - _The designer chose a warm neutral for the walls to keep the space serene._
   - _Beiges and grays are her favorite neutrals for a minimalist room._
12. A terminal or conductor in an electrical system held at zero or near-zero voltage relative to the earth ground.
   - Simple: The wire in an electrical system that carries little or no voltage and helps complete the circuit safely.
   - _Technicians measured almost no voltage between the neutral and the ground rod._
   - _A broken neutral in the supply line can damage sensitive equipment._
14. An individual or body that serves as an impartial arbitrator or adjudicator between contending parties.
   - Simple: A fair person or group chosen to settle an argument between two sides.
   - _The unions and management each accepted the ruling handed down by the neutral._
   - _Experienced neutrals know how to keep heated negotiations from breaking down._

## Origin

From Middle French neutral (compare modern French neutre), from Latin neutrālis. It can be analyzed as neuter plus the suffix -al.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/neutral (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).