neutral
gb/nˈutɹəl/ us/nˈutɹəl/
B1
English
~ 6000
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
not supporting any side
Not choosing or helping one side or another in a fight, game, or argument.
Usage pattern:
[someone]/[a country]/[an organization] is neutral (in [a conflict/argument])
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "neutral" with "normal" or "average." "Neutral" is about not choosing a side, while "normal" describes something usual. Also, learners may say "He is in neutral" when they mean "He is neutral"; "in neutral" is used mainly for car gears, not people.
Synonyms
impartial (Emphasizes being fair and treating all sides equally, often used about people like judges or referees.)
|
nonaligned (Often used for countries that do not formally join any side in an international conflict or alliance.)
Antonyms
biased (Implies unfairly supporting one side over another.)
|
partisan (Stresses strong, active support for one side, especially in politics.)
Collocations
remain neutral
|stay neutral
|strictly neutral
|politically neutral
|neutral country
|officially neutral
Themes
politics
|law
|conflict
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The organization tries to remain neutral in political debates.
- Switzerland stayed neutral during both world wars.
- As a moderator, she must be completely neutral.
- The news anchor claimed to be neutral, but some viewers disagreed.
- International law requires that neutral states do not supply weapons to either side.
Learner examples
- The referee must be neutral in the game.
- Our teacher stayed neutral in the class debate.
- The country is neutral and does not join wars.
- He wants to be neutral and not choose a side.
- They asked the judge to be neutral and fair.
adjective
B2
property
2
without strong feeling or opinion
Not clearly good or bad, happy or sad; without a strong feeling or opinion.
Usage pattern:
a neutral [tone/voice/expression/statement/response]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "neutral" when they mean "boring" or "plain." Neutral does not always mean boring; it only means not clearly positive or negative. For example, a neutral tone is calm, not dull by definition.
Synonyms
detached (Suggests emotional distance and not being personally involved.)
|
objective (Focuses on judging based on facts, not feelings, often in formal or academic contexts.)
Antonyms
emotional (Shows strong feelings instead of a calm or flat attitude.)
|
loaded (Describes language that is strongly positive or negative and can influence people’s opinions.)
Collocations
neutral tone
|neutral expression
|neutral language
|emotionally neutral
|remain neutral
|neutral response
Themes
communication
|emotions
|language
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Try to use neutral language in your report, without emotional words.
- Her voice was completely neutral as she read the verdict.
- The feedback was neutral, neither praising nor criticizing my work.
- He kept a neutral expression so no one could guess what he was thinking.
- The article is written in a neutral tone to let readers decide for themselves.
Learner examples
- Her face was neutral and hard to read.
- He spoke in a neutral voice, not angry or happy.
- The comment was neutral, not good and not bad.
- Please use neutral words in the report.
- The movie review was neutral, not very positive or negative.
adjective
B1
property
3
having soft, muted colors
Having a soft color like beige, gray, or white; not bright or strong in color.
Usage pattern:
neutral [color/tone/shade/palette/outfit]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "neutral" colors mean "transparent" or "no color at all." In design and fashion, neutral colors are usually soft colors like beige, gray, white, cream, or taupe, not invisible.
Synonyms
muted (Highlights that the color is soft or dull, not strong or bright.)
|
subtle (Emphasizes that the color effect is gentle and not noticeable at first.)
Antonyms
bright (Describes colors that are strong and intense.)
|
vivid (Describes colors that are very clear and powerful.)
Collocations
neutral colors
|neutral tones
|neutral palette
|neutral shades
|neutral outfit
|neutral decor
Themes
art
|fashion
|daily life
|arts_entertainment
|clothing
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The living room is decorated in neutral tones of beige and gray.
- She chose a neutral outfit so it would match any occasion.
- Designers often start with a neutral color palette and then add one bold color.
- Neutral shades on the walls make the room feel bigger.
- He prefers neutral colors like cream and taupe for his office.
Learner examples
- The walls are painted a neutral color.
- She wore a neutral dress, not very bright.
- I like neutral colors such as white and gray.
- This room has neutral tones and feels calm.
- We used neutral paint for the kitchen.
adjective
technical
B2
property
4
neither acidic nor basic (pH 7)
In chemistry, having pH 7, not an acid and not a base.
Usage pattern:
a neutral [solution/substance/pH]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse "neutral" in chemistry with "neutral" meaning "no opinion." In chemistry, it has a very specific technical meaning about pH (neither acidic nor basic).
Synonyms
pH-balanced (Used especially in product marketing (like soaps or shampoos) to suggest a pH close to neutral and gentle on skin.)
Antonyms
acidic (Describes a substance with a pH less than 7.)
|
alkaline (Describes a basic substance with a pH greater than 7.)
Collocations
neutral solution
|neutral pH
|chemically neutral
|electrically neutral and chemically neutral
|remain neutral
Themes
science
|chemistry
|education
|health
Examples
- Pure water is considered neutral because its pH is 7.
- The solution is neutral, so it will not react strongly with acids or bases.
- When the pH indicator stays green, the liquid is neutral.
- The goal is to make the soil slightly less acidic and closer to neutral.
- A neutral pH is important for many biological processes.
Learner examples
- In science class we learned that water is neutral.
- The liquid is neutral; it is not an acid.
- A pH of 7 means the solution is neutral.
- This soap is almost neutral, so it is gentle.
- The teacher said the best pH for plants is near neutral.
adjective
technical
B2
property
5
having no electric charge
In physics, having no overall electric charge; the positive and negative charges are equal.
Usage pattern:
a neutral [atom/particle/object]
Common mistake:
Learners may mix up "neutral" with "grounded" in electricity. Neutral means no net charge; grounded relates to being connected to the earth for safety, which is a different concept.
Synonyms
uncharged (Plain, non-technical way to say that something has no electric charge.)
Antonyms
charged (Describes an object or particle that has a net positive or negative electric charge.)
Collocations
electrically neutral
|neutral atom
|neutral particle
|overall neutral
|charge-neutral
Themes
science
|physics
|education
Examples
- A neutron is electrically neutral and has no net charge.
- Most atoms in a solid object are neutral overall.
- The balloon became negatively charged, while the wall remained neutral.
- In this experiment, we assume the object starts out neutral.
- The solution is electrically neutral, with equal positive and negative ions.
Learner examples
- A neutron is a neutral particle.
- The object is neutral; it has no charge.
- Most atoms are neutral in normal conditions.
- The wall is neutral, but the balloon is charged.
- In the picture, the middle atom is neutral.
adjective
B2
property
6
not specific to any gender
Not only for men or only for women; suitable for any gender.
Usage pattern:
gender-neutral [language/pronoun/bathroom/policy]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "gender-neutral" means "about gender" rather than "not limited to any gender." Also, some learners believe it is only about pronouns, but it can describe many things (bathrooms, clothes, names, etc.).
Synonyms
unisex (Often used for products like clothing or bathrooms that can be used by any gender; a bit more informal and product-focused.)
|
inclusive (Broader term suggesting that something welcomes or covers all groups, not only genders.)
Antonyms
gendered (Describes things that are specifically linked to one gender, like "he" or "she" pronouns or certain job titles.)
Collocations
gender-neutral language
|gender-neutral pronoun
|gender-neutral bathroom
|gender-neutral term
|gender-neutral clothing
Themes
society
|language
|politics
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Many companies now use gender-neutral language in their job ads.
- They chose a gender-neutral name for their baby.
- The school introduced gender-neutral bathrooms to be more inclusive.
- "They" is often used as a gender-neutral pronoun in English.
- We need a gender-neutral term that includes all parents, not just mothers.
Learner examples
- This word is gender-neutral; it is for all people.
- We use gender-neutral language in our office.
- "They" can be a gender-neutral pronoun.
- The shop sells gender-neutral clothes.
- The school has gender-neutral toilets now.
Noun
B1
entity
7
gear position with no drive
The gear position in a car where the engine does not move the wheels.
Usage pattern:
put [a vehicle] in/into neutral
Common mistake:
Learners may use "in neutral" for people (e.g., *He is in neutral about the topic*). For opinions, simply say "He is neutral about the topic." "In neutral" is mainly for vehicle gears.
Synonyms
neutral gear (A slightly longer form that makes clear it refers to the gear position.)
Antonyms
drive (In automatic cars, the gear position that makes the car move forward.)
|
first gear (In manual cars, the lowest forward gear used to start moving.)
Collocations
in neutral
|shift into neutral
|put it in neutral
|leave the car in neutral
|neutral gear
Themes
transport
|daily life
|technology
|transportation
Examples
- He left the car in neutral with the handbrake on.
- Shift into neutral before you start the engine.
- The mechanic asked me to put it in neutral and rev the engine.
- On a steep hill, never leave the car in neutral without the brake.
- With the car in neutral, the engine runs but the vehicle does not move.
Learner examples
- The car is in neutral, so it does not move.
- Please put the car in neutral.
- He left the car in neutral on the road.
- You must not roll down the hill in neutral.
- I always start the car with the gear in neutral.
Noun
B2
entity
8
person or country not taking sides
A person or country that stays out of a fight or war and does not take a side.
Usage pattern:
[someone/a country] is a neutral in [a conflict/war]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "a neutral" for things like colors (*a neutral in the room*), which sounds strange. For colors, say "a neutral color" or just "a neutral." Also, this noun sense is less common than the adjective; often it is better to say "a neutral country" or "a neutral person."
Synonyms
noncombatant (More formal; often used for a person or group not taking part in fighting, even if near the conflict.)
Antonyms
belligerent (Formal; describes a country or group that is actively fighting in a war.)
|
participant (General term for someone who takes part, including in a dispute or conflict.)
Collocations
a neutral in the conflict
|remain a neutral
|recognized neutral
|traditional neutral
Themes
politics
|conflict
|law
|relationships
Examples
- Sweden was a neutral in several major European conflicts.
- They tried to act as a neutral in the negotiation.
- As a neutral, the country offered to host peace talks.
- Both sides accepted the small island nation as a neutral.
- The company brought in a neutral to help resolve the dispute.
Learner examples
- The country stayed a neutral in the war.
- They asked a neutral to help with the fight.
- As a neutral, she could listen to both sides.
- The neutral helped the two groups talk.
- The small state wanted to be a neutral in world problems.
Grammar
Dictionary form
neutral
IPA
GB/nˈutɹəl/
US/nˈutɹəl/
Syllables & stress
neut - ral (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (neut)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: neutral
Noun
- Base: neutral
- Plural: neutral, neutrals
Word family
Forms
neutrals
noun
Core family
Related words
neutralization
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
non-neutral
adjective
biased
adjective B2
Expressions
gender-neutral
1/d͡ʒˈɛndɚ nˈutɹəl/
fixed phrase
not limited to a gender
Not only for men or only for women; for all genders.
Examples
- They chose a gender-neutral name for their baby.
- The school uses gender-neutral bathrooms.
- We are working on more gender-neutral job titles.
in neutral
1/ˈɪn nˈutɹəl/
fixed phrase
with the vehicle in neutral
With a car’s gear in the position where the engine does not move the wheels.
Examples
- Leave the car in neutral and pull the handbrake.
- The engine was running while the car sat in neutral.
- He rolled down the hill with the car in neutral.
neutral ground
1/nˈutɹəl ɡɹˈaʊnd/
fixed phrase
place where no side dominates
A place where no side has more power, so all people or groups feel it is fair.
Examples
- They met on neutral ground to discuss the contract.
- The hotel lobby served as neutral ground for the peace talks.
- We chose a café in the city center as neutral ground for the meeting.
neutral zone
1/nˈutɹəl zˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
technical
area between opposing sides
An area between two sides, teams, or countries where neither side fully controls it.
Examples
- The soldiers were not allowed to enter the neutral zone.
- In hockey, players must pass through the neutral zone to attack.
- Talks took place in a neutral zone between the two borders.
remain neutral
1/ɹɪmˈeɪn nˈutɹəl/
fixed phrase
continue to not take sides
To keep not choosing or helping any side in a fight, game, or argument.
Examples
- The committee must remain neutral during the investigation.
- We decided to remain neutral and not vote for either candidate.
- Journalists are expected to remain neutral when reporting the news.
stay neutral
1/stˈeɪ nˈutɹəl/
fixed phrase
avoid choosing a side
To not choose a side or show support for one group or person.
Examples
- He tried to stay neutral in his friends' argument.
- It is hard to stay neutral when your family is involved.
- The referee must stay neutral at all times.
take a neutral stance
1/tˈeɪk ə nˈutɹəl stˈæns/
fixed phrase
formal
adopt a position of no support
To decide to have an official position where you do not support any side.
Examples
- The company decided to take a neutral stance on the political issue.
- Teachers are encouraged to take a neutral stance in classroom debates.
- The government chose to take a neutral stance in the regional dispute.
carbon neutral
2/kˈɑɹbən nˈutɹəl/
fixed phrase
causing no net CO₂ increase
Not adding more carbon dioxide to the air overall, because emissions are reduced or balanced by actions that remove CO₂.
Examples
- The company aims to be carbon neutral by 2030.
- Flying will be more expensive if airlines are forced to go carbon neutral.
- Some cities are investing in trees to help them become carbon neutral.
carbon neutral
3/kˈɑɹbən nˈutɹəl/
fixed phrase
technical
Net zero greenhouse gas emissions
Not adding more carbon gases to the air than you remove.
Examples
- The festival aims to be completely carbon neutral by planting trees and using solar power.
- Many countries are pledging to become carbon neutral by 2050.