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Glite Dictionary
⚖️ Not taking sides 👔 Not noticeable 🤍 No strong color 🔋 No electric charge 🧪 Not reactive 🎨 A plain color 🕊️ Not a side
neutral

neutral

2 4.2
A person, country, or group that does not take sides
  • noun
  • /ˈnjuːtrəl/
translation icon : tercero imparcial
  • In arbitration, the parties present their cases to a neutral of their choosing.
  • a third-party neutral
  • a professional neutral
  • other third-party neutral

I just as you're describing this, it's like this adversary versus neutral versus friend.

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Examples

  • In a conflict, it can be advantageous to remain a neutral observer to understand both sides.

  • The German organizers have picked a neutral to referee the match.

    Escape to Victory (1981)

  • " The world is divided into two: our enemies and neutrals.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Is it likely that in the future parties would turn to their computers instead of neutrals or courts to settle their disputes?

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Courts are also regularly involved, directly or through appointed neutrals, in settlement negotiations.

    Academic text (2017)

  • If arbitrators are perceived as biased, one of the parties may strike them from the list of possible neutrals.

    Academic text (1994)

  • An entirely new Rule 2.4 recognizes that lawyers increasingly serve as arbitrators, mediators, or other third-party neutrals.

    Academic text (2002)

  • During the peace talks, the organization invited delegates from three neutrals to help facilitate the discussions.

  • Switzerland is known for being a neutral country, often acting as a mediator in international conflicts.

Synonyms

fence-sitter
vsneutral
  • Informal
2 6.8

A person who does not take sides in an argument

holds an impartial position rather than avoiding choice out of doubt
nonpartisan
vsneutral
1 6.3

A person who does not support any political party

stays impartial in disputes beyond party membership or political alignment
neutralist
vsneutral
  • Formal
1 7.8

A person who wants their country to stay out of other countries' wars

does not take sides in disputes without necessarily promoting a formal policy
noninterventionist
vsneutral
1 8.4

A person who does not want to get involved in other countries' problems

avoids taking sides between opposing parties rather than focusing on intervention

Antonyms

partisan
363 6.7

Showing strong support for one side and not being fair

Compounds

neutral zone
3 4.6

An area where no one fights or competes

neutral-colored
  • US
1 4.1

A color like beige or grey that does not draw attention

Idiom Neutral
  • Archaic
9.9

An international language made to help people from different countries talk

neutral spirits
  • Specialized
7.7

Very strong clear alcohol used to make drinks like gin or liqueurs

How Neutral

neutral
2 4.2
partisan
363 6.7

Surface Forms

neutral singular
neutrals plural

Morphology

neutral = neuter (semi-transparent) = neuter + al

Formed from 'neuter' + '-al'; the political sense 'not taking sides' is a semantic extension of 'neither' that may not be fully obvious to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Neutral as a noun comes from the Latin neuter 'neither of the two', so a neutral (a person, country, or group) is 'neither' side in a conflict. That's why a neutral does not take sides and can act as a mediator.