neutrality

From Middle French neutralité, from Medieval Latin neutralitas.

Morphologically neutral +‎ -ity

• (UK) IPA^(key): /njuːˈtɹæləti/
• (US) IPA^(key): /nuˈtɹæləti/

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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.

• net neutrality
• network neutrality
• internet neutrality
• NN