eunuch

1 of 2

noun (1)

eu·​nuch ˈyü-nək 

-nik

1

: a castrated man placed in charge of a harem or employed as a chamberlain in a palace

2

: a man or boy deprived of the testes or external genitals

3

: one that lacks virility or power

political eunuchs

eunuchism

ˈyü-nə-ˌki-zəm 

-ni-

noun

eunuchism

2 of 2

noun (2)

eu·​nuch·​ism -ˌkizəm 

plural -s

: the condition of being a eunuch

Examples of eunuch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

One of Nader’s grandsons, Shah Rukh, was tortured by a greedy court eunuch named Agha Muhammad to force him to reveal the location of the invaluable diamond. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026

Many of Beijing’s tech companies are in the Zhongguancun district, a cluster of office complexes set on land that, during the imperial era, served as a burial ground for palace eunuchs. — Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

The empress returns to her chambers to weep, only to be strangled by a eunuch under the noble consort’s orders. — Lavender Au, The Dial, 30 June 2026

Ancient authors used many different words for these people, such as hermaphrodite, eunuch, androgyne, tribad, malthakos and others. — Ky Merkley, The Conversation, 15 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English eunuk, from Latin eunuchus, from Greek eunouchos, from eunē bed + echein to have, have charge of — more at scheme entry 1

Noun (2)

Late Latin eunuchismus, from Greek eunouchismos, from eunouchos + -ismos -ism

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for eunuch

• punic
• runic
• tunic

Medical Definition

eunuch

noun

eu·​nuch ˈyü-nək, -nik 

: a man or boy deprived of the testes or external genitals

eunuchism

-ˌiz-əm 

noun