What does "neo" mean?
Initialism of near-Earth object.
Neo
/ˈniːəʊ/ name, noun, slang
name, noun, slang ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Initialism of near-Earth object.
- Grammar: neo is listed as name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: adherent, follower, ideologue, modern.
- Useful contrasts: ancient, archaic, archaic form.
- Usage evidence: I killed her by drowning her in a tub filled with Neo Kobe pizza.
How to use "neo"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "neo" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "neo" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "neo" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "neo" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "neo" is acting as name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "adherent" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "neo", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Initialism of near-Earth object. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism
"Near-Earth objects (NEOs) that follow horseshoe paths, and approach our planet at close range and low relative velocity, may undergo mini-moon events in which their geocentric energy becomes negative for hours, days or months, but without completing one revolution around Earth while bound. An example of NEO experiencing such a temporarily captured flyby is 2022 NX₁, which was a short-lived mini-moon in 1981 and 2022."
- 2 Clipping of neofan. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, dated, slang
"Ken Bulmer pointed out that the attitude of a fan who had read much sf is different from that of a neo who is reading sf for the first time."
- 3 Alternative letter-case form of NEO. alt-of
- 4 Acronym of new engine option. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of, countable, uncountable
- 5 Clipping of neoconservative. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping
"The neos seem to be no less uncomfortable with the paleos than the paleos are with the neos, […]"
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 Clipping of neopronoun. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, in-plural
- 7 Clipping of neodymium. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping
"The most important application of dysprosium and terbium, which belong to a subgroup known as the heavy rare earths, is in devices called neodymium boron magnets, or neo magnets for short."
Adjective
- 1 (used as a combining form) recent or new wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A male given name originating as a coinage.
- 2 A surname.
- 3 An optimized German keyboard layout supporting nearly all Latin-based alphabets.
- 4 An international auxiliary language created by Arturo Alfandari in 1961, combining features of Esperanto, Ido, Novial, and Volapük. uncountable
Example
"I killed her by drowning her in a tub filled with Neo Kobe pizza."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "neo"?
Common synonyms include: adherent, follower, ideologue, modern, modern form, new.
How do you use "neo" in a sentence?
I killed her by drowning her in a tub filled with Neo Kobe pizza.
How do you pronounce "neo"?
Pronounced /ˈniːəʊ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Recent coinage from the prefix neo- (“new”). Popularized by a character in the science-fiction film The Matrix (1999), where it is explained as an anagram of "(the) One".
Etymology 2
Borrowed from Hokkien 梁 (Niû, Niô͘), or Teochew 梁 (nion⁵ / niên⁵). Doublet of Niu.
Etymology 3
Named after the Neo Users Group in 2004.