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neuter

NOO-tuhr /ˈnjuːtər/

verbadjectiveB2SATACT

generalmedical

To surgically remove the reproductive organs of an animal, rendering it incapable of breeding.

While 'neuter' can technically refer to both male and female animals, in common usage, it is often used specifically for males (with 'spay' used for females), though veterinarians use it as a gender-neutral term for surgical sterilization.

The story behind the word. In Latin, 'neuter' literally means 'neither' (from 'ne-' meaning 'not' and 'uter' meaning 'either of two'). It was originally used in grammar to describe nouns that were neither masculine nor feminine. Later, it was adopted into medicine to describe making an animal sexually inactive or gender-neutral in terms of reproduction.

Word relationships

castrate: 'Castrate' specifically refers to removing the testicles of a male, whereas 'neuter' is a broader, gentler term for sterilizing either sex.
sterilize: 'Sterilize' is a general term for making any organism unable to reproduce, while 'neuter' specifically implies surgical removal of the gonads in animals.

breed: To produce offspring through controlled reproduction.

Commonly confused with

spay: 'Spay' is used exclusively for female animals (removing ovaries and uterus), while 'neuter' can apply to both but is commonly associated with males.

Word family

neutered (adjective): Having had the reproductive organs surgically removed.

Collocations

spay and neuter
neuter clinic
have a pet neutered

Example sentences

"The shelter requires all adoptive families to neuter their pets before they reach six months of age." An animal shelter's adoption policy.
"To control the stray population, the city funded a free program to neuter feral cats." A public health announcement about stray animals.

Memory hook

Neuter starts with 'NEU', like 'Neutral'. Neutering an animal makes its reproductive status neutral. Neuter makes reproductive ability neutral.

When not to use

Do not use to describe human sterilization procedures, which have specific medical terms like vasectomy or tubal ligation.

Fun facts

In English grammar, nouns like 'table' or 'book' are of 'neuter' gender, which is the original linguistic use of the word before it became associated with surgery.

Explore more words

spay, excise, veterinarian, sterility, incapacitate, procreate