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 cats will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped, too. — Paris Barraza, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026

Moving the two cats and six kittens from the lumberyard through the TNR process required the work of at least seven volunteers and the total minimum cost of spaying/neutering will be between $800 and $1,200. — Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

All adoption-able pets at Humane Indiana are vaccinated, tested for heartworm, dewormed, microchipped, given flea/tick and heartworm prevention, and spayed or neutered. — Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026

Each dog adopted from the Bradshaw Animal Shelter will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 5 Aug. 2026

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)