neuter

adjective neu·ter \ ˈnü-tər , ˈnyü- \

Definition of neuter

1 a :of, relating to, or constituting the gender that ordinarily includes most words or grammatical forms referring to things classed as neither masculine nor feminine

b :neither active nor passive :intransitive

2 :taking no side :neutral

3 :lacking or having imperfectly developed or nonfunctional generative organs

See neuter defined for English-language learners

See neuter defined for kids

Examples of neuter in a Sentence

The pronoun “it” is neuter.

Recent Examples of neuter from the Web

On Feb. 19, Wheaton, founder of the Alicia Pet Care Center, will hold the fifth annual free spay and neuter day in memory of Ford Petersen, an employee who died Feb. 11, 2013, at age 21, from a congenital heart condition.

— erika i. ritchie, Orange County Register, "Vet holding free spay and neuter day," 14 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'neuter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of neuter

Middle English neutre, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French neutre, from Latin neuter, literally, neither, from ne- not + uter which of two — more at no, whether

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Other Botany Terms

annual, burgeon, chloroplast, nomenclature, succulent, sylvan, xylem

neuter

noun

Definition of neuter

1 a :a noun, pronoun, adjective, or inflectional form or class of the neuter gender

b :the neuter gender

2 :one that is neutral

3 a :worker 2

b :a spayed or castrated animal

Recent Examples of neuter from the Web

The city and county shelters regularly sponsor free or low-cost spay and neuter surgeries, and Front Street is stepping up enforcement of its pet licensing and microchipping program.

— cynthia hubert, sacbee, "Sacramento shelters are putting down fewer pets. Here’s how they’re saving lives," 28 Aug. 2017
Of course, such an elastic definition neuters violence of any coherent meaning.

— josh craddock, National Review, "Words Are Not Violence," 18 Aug. 2017
In 2016, PAWS Chicago found more than 5,000 homes for homeless dogs and cats and performed 17,236 spay and neuter surgeries though Lurie Clinic and GusMobile Spay/Neuter Van, the release said.

— deanese williams-harris, chicagotribune.com, "No-kill animal shelter at capacity, asking for foster homes," 17 Aug. 2017
Adoption fee includes spay/neuter and up-to-date vaccinations.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Pet of the week for adoption," 10 Aug. 2017
To view pets, purchase a pet license or apply for spay/neuter services, visit broward.org/animal.

— cindy kent, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Pet adoption center to close early to the public July 20 for staff meeting," 13 July 2017
Consider: Pet overpopulation isn’t a problem in Europe, where canine spays and neuters aren't commonly performed and most dogs are sterilized only if their reproductive organs become diseased.

— patty khuly, miamiherald, "Spay or neuter your dog? Vet says you don’t have to but you should," 13 July 2017
Proceeds support animal rescue, adoptions, spay/neuter services and a new animal shelter. 2:30-5:30 p.m. Elks Lodge, 14602 Minnieville Rd.,

— Washington Post, "Prince William County community calendar," 2 July 2017
Instead of keeping them locked up at the shelter, though, the agency spays or neuters the cats before dropping them off where they were found.

— ryan martin, Indianapolis Star, "Most popular dog breeds at one Indianapolis animal shelter," 22 June 2017

First Known Use of neuter

15th century

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

neuter

verb

Definition of neuter

transitive verb

1 :castrate, alter

2 :to remove the force or effectiveness of

See neuter defined for English-language learners

Examples of neuter in a Sentence

She had her dog neutered by the veterinarian.
The bill was neutered by the changes made by the legislature.

Recent Examples of neuter from the Web

Here, the experience of other countries with painful pasts might offer some guidance in neutering the physical embodiments of the perpetrators of that pain, or turning them into warnings and lessons for others.

— julia ioffe, The Atlantic, "How to Repurpose a Bad Statue," 21 Aug. 2017
The 'neutered' hotel VPNs, which staff and analysts said were often installed with tacit approval from authorities, already underline sensitivities of even ceding small amounts of control.

— reuters, Fortune, "How Some of China’s Plush Hotels Are Getting Around the ‘Great Firewall’," 1 Aug. 2017
Already neutered (and declawed), the now-famous feline was a steal at the $20 adoption fee.

— saryn chorney, PEOPLE.com, "Fat Cat ‘Mr. Handsome’ Is Off the Market! 31-lb. Shelter Cat Who Became Overnight Internet Sensation Gets Adopted," 1 Aug. 2017
And the last thing McConnell wants to do is neuter the parliamentarian and then fail to repeal Obamacare, anyway.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Conservatives Just Lost Their Favorite Part of Trumpcare," 27 July 2017
Maxx is neutered, up-to-date on vaccinations and microchipped. \

— idahostatesman, "Canyon County Pet of the Week: Maxx," 26 July 2017
Adopting a cat that hasn't been spayed or neutered usually costs around $140.

— devin kelly, Alaska Dispatch News, "Teeming with cats, Anchorage shelter temporarily cuts adoption fee to $15," 19 July 2017
In 2016, 250 pets were spayed/neutered through the program, and the county is on pace to see the same number in 2017, Lecaros said in an email.

— erin hegarty, Naperville Sun, "Summer a hot time for pet owners to 'clean house' of their cats and dogs," 18 July 2017
The county also offers free spaying and neutering for low-income families to reduce the number of unwanted animals that might end up as strays.

— erin hegarty, Naperville Sun, "Summer a hot time for pet owners to 'clean house' of their cats and dogs," 18 July 2017

First Known Use of neuter

1903

neuter Synonyms

Synonyms

alter, desex, fix

Related Words

castrate, emasculate, geld; spay; sterilize

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

NEUTER Defined for English Language Learners

neuter

adjective

Definition of neuter for English Language Learners

grammar in some languages : of or belonging to the class of words (called a gender) that ordinarily includes most of the words referring to things that are neither masculine nor feminine

neuter

verb

Definition of neuter for English Language Learners

: to remove the sex organs from (an animal)
: to make (something) much less powerful or effective

NEUTER Defined for Kids

neuter

verb neu·ter \ ˈnü-tər , ˈnyü- \

Definition of neuter for Students

neutered; neutering

:to remove the sex glands and especially the testes from :castrate

neuter a dog

Medical Dictionary

neuter

noun neu·ter \ ˈn(y)üt-ər \

medical Definition of neuter

:a spayed or castrated animal (as a cat)

neuter

transitive verb

medical Definition of neuter

:castrate 1, alter

a neutered cat

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Definition of neuter

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neuter Synonyms

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Other Animal Husbandry Terms

NEUTER Defined for English Language Learners

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Definition of neuter for English Language Learners

neuter

Definition of neuter for English Language Learners

NEUTER Defined for Kids

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neuter

medical Definition of neuter

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