spay

verb

ˈspā 

 nonstandard  ˈspād

spayed ˈspād 

 nonstandard  ˈspā-dəd

; spaying ˈspā-iŋ 

 nonstandard  ˈspā-diŋ

transitive verb

: to remove the ovaries and uterus of (a female animal)

Examples of spay in a Sentence

Our cat has been spayed.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Associated Press reported that the legislation requires municipalities to collect stray dogs and house them in shelters, where they will be vaccinated, neutered and spayed. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025

Thompson said the organization spayed or neutered more than 22,000 cats and dogs last year and expects higher numbers this year. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2025

After staying at the shelter, Caboose eventually underwent surgery to get spayed and get their hernia repaired, but that's when doctors found something that left them bewildered. —Nicholas Rice, People.com, 24 May 2025

Cats and kittens − all spayed or neutered and under vet care − were available for adoption. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French espeer to pierce, castrate, from espee sword, from Latin spatha sword — more at spade

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for spay

• ay
• bay
• bey
• brae
• cay
• chez
• dey
• dray
• fay
• fey
• flay
• fray

Kids Definition

spay

verb

ˈspā 

: to remove the ovaries and uterus of (a female animal)

Medical Definition

spay

transitive verb

ˈspā 

spayed; spaying

: to remove the ovaries and uterus of (a female animal)