neutral

Treating everyone fairly without giving either side an advantage.

• The referee must be neutral.
• We chose a neutral person to settle the dispute.
• A neutral observer watched both teams closely.

Similar words: impartial, unbiased, fair

Opposites: biased, partial

Common phrases: neutral judge, neutral observer, remain neutral

Not supporting or opposing a particular idea or opinion.

• I'm neutral on this issue.
• She remained neutral throughout the debate.
• The newspaper took a neutral position on the proposal.

How to use it: neutral on/about something (I am neutral on the proposed changes.)

Similar words: unbiased, impartial, noncommittal

Opposites: biased, partisan

Common phrases: neutral on something, neutral position, remain neutral

Not supporting or joining either side in a war or other conflict.

• The country stayed neutral during the war.
• They met on neutral territory.
• Several neutral states offered to host peace talks.

How to use it: neutral in something (The country remained neutral in the conflict.)

Similar words: nonaligned, nonbelligerent

Common phrases: neutral country, neutral territory, stay neutral

The gear position in which an engine does not drive the wheels or other moving parts.

• The car is in neutral.
• He shifted into neutral at the lights.
• Can you put the gearbox in neutral?

How to use it: in neutral (The car rolled downhill because it was in neutral.); put something into neutral (Put the transmission into neutral before starting the engine.)

Common phrases: in neutral, into neutral, shift to neutral