neuter

1 of 3

adjective

neu·​ter ˈnü-tər How to pronounce neuter (audio)
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
b
: a spayed or castrated animal

neuter

3 of 3

verb

neutered; neutering; neuters

transitive verb

1
2
: to remove the force or effectiveness of

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
Their two-for-one adoption fee includes neuter surgeries, current vaccinations, microchip, and a follow-up wellness exam with a VCA Animal Hospital. The Arizona Republic, 22 Mar. 2024 Adoption fee: $75, including microchip registration, spay/neuter and up-to-date vaccinations and a one-year license if his new home is in the jurisdiction of San Diego Humane Society’s Department of Animal Services. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2024 The solution to the issue varies from residents who help feed the animals to private and public spay and neuter programs. The Courier-Journal, 23 Feb. 2024 His adoption fee includes his neuter surgery, current vaccinations, a microchip, and a follow-up wellness exam with a VCA Animal Hospital. The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024 The problem has gotten bad enough in Kenton County that the Kenton County Fiscal Court commissioners decided to allocate $329,000 to hire a full-time veterinarian to spay and neuter cats. The Courier-Journal, 23 Feb. 2024 Adoption fee: $100, includes microchip registration, spay/neuter and up-to-date vaccinations and a one-year license if her new home is in the jurisdiction of San Diego Humane Society’s Department of Animal Services. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2024 Adoption fee: $489 plus a $36 microchip fee; includes spay/neuter and up-to-date vaccinations. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024 That’s why shelter officials are waiving adoption fees for dogs, which includes spay or neuter surgery, a microchip and vaccinations, to make space for the new arrivals. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 7 Feb. 2024
Noun
There are also more pets that need to go through examinations, tests, vaccinations, and spay or neuter before they are adopted. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2024 Public can walk through, see kennels, surgery prep Members of the public can even see preparations for surgeries, like spays and neuters, through a window in the publicly accessible part of the campus. Corina Vanek, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 Community members can adopt a pet for $14, which covers the cost of intake vaccines, microchipping, rabies vaccine, one-year dog license (for Chula Vista residents) and spay or neuter. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Feb. 2024 Francis acknowledged that there is already a shortage of veterinarians nationwide, and that more and more vets work for corporations that emphasize premium pet services, rather than low-cost spay/neuter. Jonathan Franzen, The New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2023 And there's no state laws that require spay and neuter or anything like that, but that's what saves lives is spay and neuter. Paige Eichkorn, Arkansas Online, 13 Aug. 2023 Services range from dog licensing, spay and neuter, behavior and training assistance, including a free Behavior Helpline to a community pet pantry, and lost and found. San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2023 The $23 adoption fee includes spay/neuter, vaccines, a 2023 dog license, microchip, and a current rabies tag. Cliff Pinckard, cleveland, 6 Jan. 2023 This sweet rabbit’s story is a perfect example of the importance of spay and neuter, as just a few pets can quickly become too many to care for. The Republic, The Arizona Republic, 16 June 2023
Verb
No appointment is needed to visit Arthur and Stanely, who are neutered, microchipped, and up-to-date on their vaccinations. Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024 He is neutered, licensed, microchipped and current on vaccinations. The Arizona Republic, 15 Mar. 2024 According to an Instagram post from the organization, a person can donate $50 to the shelter to have a feral cat named after their ex — and then neutered. Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2024 The only waiting periods associated with adopting a pet are if the animal is still in the holding period required after a stray is found (five days in Lancaster County and 72 hours for Mecklenburg County) and whether the animal has been spayed or neutered. Vanessa Infanzon, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024 If that isn't harsh enough, the Humane Society of Warren County in Front Royal, Virginia, will name a feral cat for your ex before neutering them. Erin Glynn, The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024 Katara has been bafflingly neutered, her personality stripped away with little left but a girl who will apparently learn how to water-bend very quickly and who says mildly inspiring things about helping people. Erik Kain, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Spay Day Sacramento, celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, has spayed or neutered nearly 8,300 cats and dogs since the event began in 2000. Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024 The alternative is to first get the hostages out, then figure out how to neuter Hamas. Marc Champion, Twin Cities, 24 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'neuter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of neuter was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near neuter

Cite this Entry

“Neuter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neuter. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

neuter

1 of 3 adjective
neu·​ter ˈn(y)üt-ər How to pronounce neuter (audio)
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

neuter

3 of 3 verb

Medical Definition

neuter

1 of 2 noun
neu·​ter ˈn(y)üt-ər How to pronounce neuter (audio)
: a spayed or castrated animal (as a cat)

neuter

2 of 2 transitive verb
: to castrate or spay (an animal) : alter

More from Merriam-Webster on neuter

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