Neutral Meaning
/ˈnjuː.tɹəl/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjNot taking sides in a conflict such as war; nonaligned.
adjFavoring neither the supporting nor opposing viewpoint of a topic of debate; unbiased.
Sentence Examples
The senator remained neutral in the furious controversy.
That country remained neutral throughout World War II.
Journalists are supposed to be politically neutral.
CEFR Practice Quiz
A country that takes no side in a war is said to be ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Switzerland is well known for remaining ____ during many global conflicts.
Word Origin & History
From Middle French neutral (compare modern French neutre), from Latin neutrālis. By surface analysis, neuter + -al.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The heart can not possibly remain neutral, but constantly takes part one way or the other."
— 1711, Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury, Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times:
"Some things good, and some things ill, do seem,
And neutral some, in her fantastic eye."
— c. 1600, Sir John Davies, The Original, Nature, and Immortality of the Soul:
"Plant breeding is always a numbers game.[…] The wild species we use are rich in genetic variation,[…] In addition, we are looking for rare alleles, so the more plants we try, the better. These rarities may be new mutations, or they can be existing ones that are neutral—or are even selected against—in a wild population. A good example is mutations that disrupt seed dispersal, leaving the seeds on the heads long after they are ripe."
— 2013 May-June, David Van Tassel, Lee DeHaan, “Wild Plants to the Rescue”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:
"They say in Harlan County
There are no neutrals there
You'll either be a union man
Or a thug for J.H. Blair."
— 1931, “Which Side Are You On?”, performed by Florence Patton Reece:
"He shoved the tractor into neutral, and, leaving the engine running, jumped down[.]"
— 1961, Robert S. Close, With Hooves of Brass, Sydney: Horwitz Publications, page 124:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
A country that takes no side in a war is said to be ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Switzerland is well known for remaining ____ during many global conflicts.