neutral zone

noun

plural neutral zones
1
American football : a space between the two lines of scrimmage equivalent to the length of the ball that may not be encroached upon by either team until the ball is put in play
2
ice hockey : the portion of a rink (see rink sense 1a) between the attacking and defensive zones
3
: a zone or area of shared ownership or administration
In fact, the Saudis and Kuwaitis aid the Iraqis … by selling Iraqi oil from the neutral zone, a favor that pumps more than $3 million a day into Iraqi coffers.Newsweek

Examples of neutral zone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On the drive in which Charbonnet scored the game-winning touchdown, the Jets committed four penalties, including Will McDonald’s neutral zone infraction that helped the Seahawks get to the eight-yard line. Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 1 Dec. 2024 That the Canucks were able to rally in the second period, lock down the Senators defensively and capitalize opportunistically off of a pair of neutral zone mistakes by Ottawa is more evidence of a team that found a way to rally, and play the right way. Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 23 Nov. 2024 Campaigning is prohibited inside polling locations and within 100 feet of their entrances (called neutral zones). Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 31 Oct. 2024 The system dials back on an aggressive two-forward forecheck, concentrating more on one forward guiding an opposing player into one area of a flooded neutral zone. Eric Stephens, The Athletic, 3 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for neutral zone 

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of neutral zone was in 1838

Dictionary Entries Near neutral zone

Cite this Entry

“Neutral zone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neutral%20zone. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!