neutral stance

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   An attitude of not supporting either side in a disagreement, conflict, or debate.

   Grammar: Countable; often used with verbs like take, adopt, maintain, or keep.

   Patterns

   • take a neutral stance on something
   • adopt a neutral stance
   • maintain a neutral stance

   The newspaper tried to take a neutral stance on the election.

   She maintained a neutral stance during the argument between her two friends.

   The country adopted a neutral stance in the war.

2. 2nouncountabletechnical

   A physical position in which the body or a part of it is relaxed and not leaning to one side.

   Grammar: Countable; used in medical or sports contexts.

   Patterns

   • return to a neutral stance
   • stand in a neutral stance

   After the injury, the patient was asked to return to a neutral stance.

   The golf coach showed me how to hold a neutral stance before swinging.

Word forms

Common combinations

take a neutral stance

The committee decided to take a neutral stance on the proposal.

maintain a neutral stance

He maintained a neutral stance throughout the negotiations.

adopt a neutral stance

The school adopted a neutral stance on the controversial issue.

a neutral stance on

She has a neutral stance on most political matters.

Synonyms and how they differ

impartiality

Impartiality is a noun meaning fairness; a neutral stance is the actual position or attitude you take.

objectivity

Objectivity focuses on being influenced by facts, not feelings; a neutral stance can also mean simply not choosing a side.

Opposites

Commonly confused: neutral stance or neutral position?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “neutral stance”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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