: to remove the ovaries and uterus of (a female animal)
Examples of spay in a Sentence
Our cat has been spayed.
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The shelter takes in about 350 animals each year, providing each one with medical attention, including spaying/neutering, vaccines, a microchip, testing for common illnesses, dewormer and flea and heartworm prevention.—Amanda Rosa
april 9, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026 The actual cause is not well understood but dogs that go through this are often prone to it repeating if not spayed.—Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026 Officials urged spaying and neutering and early outreach for help to prevent similar cases.—Eric Henderson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026 The cats were spayed, neutered and vaccinated before being returned their original location.—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spay
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French espeer to pierce, castrate, from espee sword, from Latin spatha sword — more at spade