neutralize

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

Also spelled neutralised

US /ˈnutɹəˌlaɪz/ UK /ˈnjuːtɹəlaɪz/ See IPA manual

Freq #16706

Meanings

1

verb
To stop something from having an effect by balancing it out.

The medicine neutralizes the excess acid in your stomach.
2

verb
To make a substance chemically neutral, neither acid nor base.

Adding lime to the soil neutralizes its acidity.
3

verb
To remove a threat or enemy, often by force.

The security team moved in to neutralize the threat.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to stop something from... counteract negate nullify

Word family

Forms neutralizedneutralizesneutralizing

Derived forms bioneutralizedeneutralizeelectroneutralizegender-neutralizeimmunoneutralizeimmunoneutralizedneutralizableneutralizationneutralizernonneutralizingoverneutralizepreneutralize

Etymology

From French neutraliser (first attested in 1642). By surface analysis, neutral + -ize.

neutraliser French

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# neutralize

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈnutɹəˌlaɪz/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈnjuːtɹəlaɪz/
**Frequency rank:** 16706

## Meanings
1. To stop something from having an effect by balancing it out.
2. To make a substance chemically neutral, neither acid nor base.
3. To remove a threat or enemy, often by force.

## Examples
- The medicine neutralizes the excess acid in your stomach.
- Adding lime to the soil neutralizes its acidity.
- The security team moved in to neutralize the threat.

## Derived Forms
- bioneutralize
- deneutralize
- electroneutralize
- gender-neutralize
- immunoneutralize
- immunoneutralized
- neutralizable
- neutralization
- neutralizer
- nonneutralizing
- overneutralize
- preneutralize

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: neutraliser

## Etymology
From French neutraliser (first attested in 1642). By surface analysis, neutral + -ize.

## AI Etymology
Neutralize is from French neutraliser (first attested in 1642). By surface analysis, neutral + -ize. In present-day use, it can mean to stop something from having an effect by balancing it out, or to make a substance chemically neutral, neither acid nor base. Derived formations include bioneutralize, deneutralize, electroneutralize, gender-neutralize, and immunoneutralize.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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