spay

verb

ˈspā How to pronounce spay (audio)
 nonstandard  ˈspād
spayed ˈspād How to pronounce spay (audio)
 nonstandard  ˈspā-dəd
; spaying ˈspā-iŋ How to pronounce spay (audio)
 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 This past February, Dunn’s shelter held a clinic for spaying and neutering outdoor cats. Sachi Mulkey, WIRED, 23 Mar. 2024 The county contracts with an in-house vet that spays and neuters cats because the animal shelter doesn't have enough resources to provide surgeries themselves. The Courier-Journal, 23 Feb. 2024 Now spayed, the 2-year-old dog named Nova is up for adoption at the Arizona Humane Society South Mountain Campus. Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024 To join the members-only club, dogs must pass a temperament test, be up to date on vaccinations and be spayed or neutered at 8 months. Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2024 Shiva is spayed, current on vaccinations and preventatives. Stephanie Baillargeon-McCurry and, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2024 Peanut is spayed, microchipped, licensed and current on vaccinations, and her adoption fee is $325. The Republic, The Arizona Republic, 2 Feb. 2024 And once or twice a month, the group tries to trap them in cages — sometimes using chicken nuggets or homemade bait — so they can be neutered or spayed by veterinarians. María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024 Advertisement Many clinics considered spaying and neutering animals nonessential during the height of the pandemic and cut back on performing the procedures. Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spay.' 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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of spay was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near spay

Cite this Entry

“Spay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spay. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

spay

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

Medical Definition

spay

transitive verb
spayed; spaying
: to remove the ovaries and uterus of (a female animal)

More from Merriam-Webster on spay

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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