adj
neuter
NYOO-tuh
Neuter (adj) means not aligned with either side; neither one thing nor the other. Example: “He tried to stay neuter in the office dispute.”
adj
1
Not aligned with either side; neither one thing nor the other.
"He tried to stay neuter in the office dispute."
2
In grammar, belonging to a gender that is neither masculine nor feminine.
"In German, "das Kind" uses the neuter article."
verb
1
To remove an animal's reproductive organs so it cannot breed.
"They had their cat neutered before it turned six months old."
"Vets recommend neutering dogs to help control the pet population."
2
To greatly weaken or reduce the effect of something.
"The amendment was designed to neuter the bill's toughest provisions."
How to use neuter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNeither one side nor the other — or, as a verb, to castrate an animal or to strip something of its power.
Common pairings
neuter a cat
neuter gender
neuter the opposition
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Word forms
- Plural
- neuters
- Third person singular
- neuters
- Past tense
- neutered
- Comparative
- more neuter
- Superlative
- most neuter
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He tried to stay _____ in the office dispute.
Etymology
From Latin neuter, literally "not either," from ne ("not") plus uter ("either") — the same idea behind English "neither."
Related words
Rhymes for neuter
See all rhymes for neuter →Frequently asked questions
What does “neuter” mean?
The word “neuter” means not aligned with either side; neither one thing nor the other. In plain terms, neither one side nor the other — or, as a verb, to castrate an animal or to strip something of its power.
How do you pronounce “neuter”?
“Neuter” is pronounced NYOO-tuh (/ˈn(j)utɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “neuter” in a sentence?
Here is “neuter” used in a sentence: “He tried to stay neuter in the office dispute.”
What is another word for “neuter”?
Words with a similar meaning to “neuter” include castrate, desex, doctor, fix and spay.
What part of speech is “neuter”?
Depending on how it is used, “neuter” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “neuter” come from?
The word “neuter” comes from Latin. From Latin neuter, literally "not either," from ne ("not") plus uter ("either") — the same idea behind English "neither.".
How many meanings does “neuter” have?
“Neuter” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not aligned with either side; neither one thing nor the other.
