neuter

1 of 3

adjective

neu·​ter ˈnü-tər 

ˈnyü-

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

neuter

2 of 3

noun

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 sense 2

b

: a spayed or castrated animal

neuter

3 of 3

verb

neutered; neutering; neuters

transitive verb

1

: to castrate or spay (an animal) : alter

a neutered cat

2

: to remove the force or effectiveness of (someone or something)

Democrats say those changes would effectively neuter the bureau and hand the financial industry yet another victory over the little guy.

—Michael Crowley

Synonyms of neuter

Verb

• alter
• fix

Examples of neuter in a Sentence

Adjective

The pronoun “it” is neuter.

Verb

She had her dog neutered by the veterinarian.

The bill was neutered by the changes made by the legislature.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Those who want to help can make a monetary donation to support spay and neuter programs or share information about the effort to help the organization reach more people who can offer support, officials said. —Eric Henderson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026

The bill would also create an animal protection fund to help support the registry and local spay-and-neuter programs. —Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026

Noun

Funds raised at this event provides medical care to sick or injured animals, low cost vaccinations and spay/neuter services, behavior training, humane education programs and so much more! —CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026

For a $15 donation, ARL will name a feral cat after your ex, spay or neuter it, and release it through its trap-neuter-return program. —Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 12 Feb. 2026

Verb

Becker is neutered, microchipped, fully vaccinated and has been treated for parasites. —Maryanne Dell, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026

Officials urged spaying and neutering and early outreach for help to prevent similar cases. —Eric Henderson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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 entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for neuter

• pewter
• router
• scooter
• shooter
• suitor
• tutor
• commuter
• computer
• polluter
• recruiter
• microcomputer
• minicomputer

Kids Definition

neuter

1 of 3 adjective

neu·​ter ˈn(y)üt-ər 

1

: relating to or being the class of words that ordinarily includes most of those referring to things that are neither male nor female

a neuter noun

the neuter gender

2

: lacking sex organs

also : having imperfectly developed sex organs

neuter

2 of 3 noun

1

a

: a word or form of the neuter gender

b

: the neuter gender

2

: worker sense 2

neuter

3 of 3 verb

: castrate, alter sense 2

Medical Definition

neuter

1 of 2 noun

neu·​ter ˈn(y)üt-ər 

: a spayed or castrated animal (as a cat)

neuter

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to castrate or spay (an animal) : alter