neutrality

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English

Etymology

From Middle French neutralité, from Medieval Latin neutralitas.

Morphologically neutral +‎ -ity

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /njuːˈtɹæləti/
  • (US) IPA(key): /nuˈtɹæləti/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Noun

neutrality (usually uncountable, plural neutralities)

  1. The state or quality of being neutral; the condition of being unengaged in contests between others; state of taking no part on either side.
    Synonyms: indifferent, on the fence
    • 1665, Joseph Glanvill, chapter XXVII, in Scepsis Scientifica: Or, Confest Ignorance, the Way to Science; in an Essay of the Vanity of Dogmatizing, and Confident Opinion with a Reply to the Exceptions of the Learned Thomas Albius‎, London: E. Cotes, page 168:
      And what happineſs is there in a ſtorm of paſſions? On this account the Scepticks affected an indifferent æquipondious neutrality as the only means to their Ataraxia, and freedom from paßionate diſturbances.
    • 1709, Joseph Addison, The Tatler:
      Men who possess a state of neutrality in times of public danger, desert the interest of their fellow subjects.
    • 1856 June 14, “England and America”, in The Saturday Review of Politics, Literature, Science, and Art, volume 2, number 33, London: John W. Parker and Son, page 141:
      The official pretence of a scrupulous solicitude to maintain neutrality is flagrantly insincere.
  2. (obsolete) Indifference in quality; a state neither very good nor bad.
    • 1611, John Donne, An Anatomy of the World:
      There is no health; physicians say that we
      At best enjoy but a neutrality.
  3. (chemistry): The quality or state of being neutral.
  4. (international law) The condition of a nation or government which refrains from taking part, directly or indirectly, in a war between other powers.
  5. Those who are neutral; a combination of neutral powers or states.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia