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neutral

Etymology and origin of the English word neutral

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
c. 1449
Borrowed from
Middle French neutral
Ultimate origin
Latin (neuter)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin neutralis
English neutral

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈnjuː.tɹəl/ (UK); /ˈnuː.tɹəl/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Middle French neutral or directly borrowed from Latin neutrālis (“of neuter gender”),[2][3][4] from neuter (“neither of two”) (see neuter).[2][3] The sense of taking no side probably comes from Medieval Latin.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

As a noun, a person or state taking no part in a contest: about 1449 in Barnhart, the mid-15th century in Etymonline.[2][3] As an adjective, a compound of contrasting elements, in alchemy: 1471.[2]

Semantic evolution

Of rulers or states, not taking part in a war, is from 1549, and of persons in a dispute from 1551.[5][2] Belonging to neither of two categories is from 1567.[5] In chemistry, neither acid nor alkaline is from 1661, in Boyle,[2][3] and in electricity, having no charge, from 1837.[2] Of colours, without strong hue, it is from 1821.[3] The disengaged position of gears is neutral by 1905,[3] and the boxing neutral corner is from 1908.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 1449 – a neutral person or state.[2]
  • 1471 – in alchemy.[2]
  • 1549 – not taking sides in a war.[5][2]
  • 1661 – in chemistry.[2]
  • 1821 – of colours.[3]
  • 1905 – the neutral gear.[3]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Not supporting either side in a war or dispute; impartial.
  2. Having no strong characteristics; of a colour, pale or greyish.
  3. (chemistry) Neither acid nor alkaline.
  4. (physics) Having no electric charge.

Noun

  1. A neutral person or country.
  2. The position of a gear lever in which no gear is engaged.

Word family

  • neutrally
  • neutralness
  • gender-neutral
  • antineutral
  • electroneutral
  • neutralism
  • neutralist
  • neutrality

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ a b c Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Neutral.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/neutral. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·