English Meaning & Definitions
Not one nor the other of two people or things.
- “Neither candidate was suitable for the position.”
- “Neither book interested me.”
Not either; not the one nor the other.
- “I have two brothers, but neither lives in this city.”
- “Neither of the two options seemed particularly appealing.”
Used to indicate that a negative statement applies to each of two or more things.
- “He didn't like the movie, and neither did I.”
- “She is neither tall nor short.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “neither”.
Derived from the Old English 'nāwþer', a contraction of 'ne' (not) and 'āwþer' (either). It evolved through Middle English as a way to negate the choice between two options, effectively functioning as the negative counterpart to 'either'.
Think of 'N-either': The 'N' stands for 'Not'—it is 'not either' of the two options.
Frequently Asked Questions About “neither”
1. What is the meaning of “neither” in English?
In English, neither (adjective) is defined as: “Not one nor the other of two people or things.”.
2. How do you use “neither” in a sentence?
“Neither candidate was suitable for the position.”
3. What are English synonyms of “neither”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “neither”?
Derived from the Old English 'nāwþer', a contraction of 'ne' (not) and 'āwþer' (either). It evolved through Middle English as a way to negate the choice between two options, effectively functioning as the negative counterpart to 'either'.
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