Neutralise means to make something ineffective, to disarm, to make harmless, to cause something to become neutral. Used euphemistically, neutralise may also be used to mean to kill someone. Neutralise is the British spelling, related words are neutralises, neutralised, neutralising, neutraliser and neutralisation.
Neutralize is the preferred American spelling. Related words are neutralizes, neutralized, neutralizing, neutralizer and neutralization. The American spelling is gaining acceptance around the world. Neutralise and neutralize are examples of a group of words that are spelled with a “z” in American English and with an “s” in British English. Neutralize comes from the French word neutraliser, meaning “to counterbalance, to kill by opposing, first appearing in the 1700s.
Examples
However, they note that much larger quantities would be needed to neutralise carbon dioxide on an industrial scale. (The International Business Times)
A type of bacteria found at the bottom of the ocean could be used to neutralise large amounts of industrial carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere, researchers, including one of Indian-origin, have found. (The Economic Times)
The first was that it failed to quickly neutralise Georgia’s anti-aircraft capability. (Reuters)
Scientists say a unique enzyme-producing bacterium, found deep below the ocean surface, could help neutralize greenhouse gas pollution. (UPI)
“It was an important operation… An important DAESH group was neutralized,” Kurtulmus said, using an alternative name for the IS group. (The Kansas City Star)
He paused to neutralize France and Britain before moving on to an assault on the Soviet Union that was, in great part, ideologically motivated. (The Wall Street Journal)
One of the primary requirements of an enzyme used in industrial scale carbon dioxide neutralization is that it should be able to withstand high temperatures and because the bacteria are known to live near hydrothermal vents, the enzyme is capable of withstanding high temperatures. (The Dispatch Tribunal)