neutralization

UK: /ˌnjuːtrəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/

US: /ˌnutrəlɪˈzeɪʃən, ˌnjʊ-/

US: (no̅o̅′trə lə zā′shən, nyo̅o̅′-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

neu•tral•i•za•tion  (no̅o̅′trə lə zā′shən, nyo̅o̅′-), n. 

1. the act, process, or an instance of neutralizing.
2. the quality or condition of being neutralized.
3. Phonetics [Ling.] the loss of a distinctive feature of one of a pair of phonemes that are otherwise differentiated on the basis of that feature, as the loss of voice as a distinctive feature between the -t- and -d- of latter and ladder.

• neutralize + -ation 1800–10

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

neu•tral•ize /ˈnutrəˌlaɪz, ˈnyu-/   v. [~ + object] , -ized, -iz•ing. 

1. to make neutral.
2. to make (something) have no or little effect; counteract;
   nullify:
   His campaign team tried to neutralize the bad effects of the debate.

neu•tral•i•za•tion /ˌnutrəlɪˈzeɪʃən, ˌnyʊ-/  n. [uncountable]
neu•tral•iz•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

neu•tral•ize  (no̅o̅′trə līz′, nyo̅o̅′-), v., -ized, -iz•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to make neutral;
   cause to undergo neutralization.
2. to make (something) ineffective;
   counteract;
   nullify:
   carelessness that neutralized our efforts.
3. Military to put out of action or make incapable of action:
   to neutralize an enemy position.
4. Government to declare neutral;
   invest with neutrality in order to exempt from involvement during a war:
   to neutralize a city to prevent bombing.
5. Chemistry to add an acid to a basic solution or a base to an acidic solution until the resulting solution is chemically neutral (pH = 7).
6. Electricity to render electrically or magnetically neutral.

v.i. 

7. to become neutral or neutralized* undergo neutralization:
   With this additive the solution begins to neutralize.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] neu′tral•ise′. 

• neutral + -ize 1655–65

neu′tral•iz′er, n.