castrato

noun

cas·​tra·​to ka-ˈsträ-(ˌ)tō How to pronounce castrato (audio)
kə-
plural castrati ka-ˈsträ-tē How to pronounce castrato (audio)
kə-
: a singer castrated before puberty to preserve the soprano or contralto range of his voice

Examples of castrato 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.
At the start of the twentieth century, only nine castrati remained in the Papal Chapel, and a 1903 decree by Pius X banned new recruits, not that many would have been forthcoming. Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026 Guido is a castrati, a male singer who underwent castration before puberty to preserve his soprano singing voice. Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 12 Nov. 2025 Unlike traditional castrati, Costanzo did not come to his high vocal register after having had his testicles crushed between stones. Henry Alford, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025 Handel composed in 1750 for a famous castrato alto. Dallas News, 23 Dec. 2022 See All Example Sentences for castrato

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, noun derivative from past participle of castrare "to remove the testes of a male," going back to Latin castrāre — more at castrate entry 1

First Known Use

1763, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of castrato was in 1763

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Castrato.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/castrato. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on castrato

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!

More from Merriam-Webster