neutrality

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The state of deliberately refusing to support or help either side in a war, argument, or competition.

   Grammar: Uncountable; often follows maintain, declare, or preserve, and implies an active choice rather than simple indifference.

   Patterns

   • maintain neutrality
   • declare neutrality
   • a policy of neutrality

   The small country maintained its neutrality throughout the war and traded with both sides.

   The referee's strict neutrality made both teams trust his decisions.

2. 2noununcountablechemistry

   The chemical condition of being neutral, neither acidic nor alkaline, such as a solution with a pH of seven.

   Grammar: Uncountable scientific use; it refers to a property of a substance, not to a substance itself.

   Patterns

   • the neutrality of a solution
   • test for neutrality

   Pure water has a neutrality corresponding to a pH of seven.

   Adding acid destroyed the neutrality of the solution.

Common combinations

maintain neutrality

The government chose to maintain neutrality rather than join the conflict.

declare neutrality

The kingdom declared neutrality as soon as the war began.

strict neutrality

The organization claims strict neutrality on political questions.

policy of neutrality

For decades the country followed a policy of neutrality in foreign affairs.

Synonyms and how they differ

impartiality

Emphasizes fair judgment without favoritism; neutrality emphasizes not taking a side at all.

nonalignment

Used for countries that avoid formal military alliances; neutrality is the broader term for any refusal to take sides.

objectivity

Focuses on being free of personal bias in judgment or reporting, rather than staying out of a conflict.

Opposites

Word family

neutral adjective

Not supporting either side; also chemically neither acid nor alkaline.

neutral noun

A neutral person or position, or the disengaged position of a gearbox.

neutralize verb

To make something ineffective, or to counteract an acid or an enemy force.

neutralization noun

The process of neutralizing something, especially in chemistry or conflict.

Commonly confused: neutrality or neutral?

Practice

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

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