What Does "NEITHER" Mean? The Complete Neither Definition
The meaning of NEITHER is “not one and not the other” when you are choosing between two things or people. In everyday English, the NEITHER definition most often appears in paired expressions like “neither A nor B,” and it can function as a determiner, pronoun, conjunction, or adverb depending on the sentence. It is used when both options are excluded, or when a negative response applies to two alternatives.
So, what does NEITHER mean in practice? If someone says, “Neither answer is correct,” they mean both answers are wrong. If they say, “I like neither coffee nor tea,” they mean they like neither one. The word has been in English for centuries and comes from Old English, with roots tied to “not either,” showing how its sense evolved from a paired negative into a standard grammar word. That makes NEITHER meaning in word games and puzzles especially tricky, because it sounds simple but often depends on context.
Neither Synonyms: Words Similar to NEITHER
Synonyms for NEITHER include several words and phrases that overlap depending on the context, but none match it perfectly in every use.
- none — This works when referring to zero items, but it is broader and not limited to two choices.
- not either — This is a close phrase-level equivalent and is useful when explaining the NEITHER definition directly.
- no one — This fits only when NEITHER refers to people, not objects or choices.
- not one — This emphasizes the negative exclusion of a single item and is less common in formal writing.
- nor — This often pairs with NEITHER in grammar, but it is a connector rather than a full synonym.
- either not — This is not standard in most sentences, but it can appear in explanatory contexts about NEITHER used in English.
How to Use "NEITHER" in a Sentence: Real Examples
Here are some clear examples of NEITHER in a sentence:
- Neither route is faster, so we should choose the one with less traffic.
- I wanted neither dessert nor coffee after dinner.
- She answered that she likes neither of the two proposals.
- Neither can be used as a pronoun in formal English, as in “Neither of them was invited.”
NEITHER in NYT Connections #1117 — Why Did It Appear?
In NYT Connections #1117 on 2026-04-07, NEITHER appeared in the Blue category, the hardest group, titled It belonged with and , all of which can point to an indefinite or non-specific choice. That makes the NEITHER NYT Connections answer clever: the word does not obviously mean “unspecified” at first glance, so players who did not know the theme likely found it confusing. In word games, NEITHER meaning depends heavily on subtle category logic, which is exactly why it was a tough Connections pick. It is also a strategic word for vocabulary games because its common letters and balanced vowel placement make it recognizable, even if its function is easy to overlook.