Word
neither
Used to mean 'not either' of two things or people.
Meanings
Not either one of two things or people.
Used before two or more alternatives to show that none of them is true or possible.
Used to mean 'also not' when agreeing with a negative statement.
Definition
"Neither" is a word used to indicate that something is not true for either of two options. It can function as a determiner before a noun, a pronoun referring to two items, or as part of a conjunction with "nor." It also functions as an adverb to show agreement with a negative statement.
Examples
- Neither of the two solutions worked, so we had to find a third option.
- Neither answer was correct on her test, which made her feel frustrated.
- He likes neither coffee nor tea in the morning; he prefers water.
- She doesn't enjoy hiking, and neither do I.
- Neither John nor Mary attended the meeting, causing confusion among the organizers.
Common mistake
A common mistake is using 'neither...or' instead of the correct pairing 'neither...nor'.