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)
Example Sentences
Our cat has been spayed.
Recent Examples on the Web This is much more common with pet owners who do not spay or neuter all of their pets and have accidental litters that can quickly become out of control; a significant reminder of the importance of fixing your pets. 
The Arizona Republic, 29 Apr. 2022 Undercover shoppers were quoted fees ranging from $235 to $1,404 to spay a 7-month-old, 25-pound dog. Washington Post, 27 Jan. 2022 In Los Angeles, Wagmor Pets shelter owner Melissa Bacelar learned Tuesday that her group had received $17,000 on Jan. 17 alone—enough money to spay and neuter at least 60 dogs. Ginger Adams Otis, WSJ, 19 Jan. 2022 The Humane Society of Utah will spay or neuter dogs for $125 and cats for $90 at its clinics in Murray and St. George. Kolbie Peterson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 24 Nov. 2021 The Golden Globe winner, 75, sat down for an interview (and some snuggles) with a shelter cat named Patches for PETA's new campaign, urging pet owners to spay and neuter their animals. Glenn Garner, PEOPLE.com, 28 Oct. 2021 After being given anesthesia, vet technicians will neuter or spay the cat, provide a rabies vaccine and implant a microchip. Wells Dusenbury, sun-sentinel.com, 8 Oct. 2021 Other shelters have had long-standing overcrowding issues because their states don’t have strong campaigns that encourage pet owners to spay and neuter their animals. Washington Post, 2 Sep. 2021 Many, if not most, dog owners in the United States never confront the question of whether to spay or neuter their pets. Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2020 See More
The Arizona Republic, 29 Apr. 2022 Undercover shoppers were quoted fees ranging from $235 to $1,404 to spay a 7-month-old, 25-pound dog. Washington Post, 27 Jan. 2022 In Los Angeles, Wagmor Pets shelter owner Melissa Bacelar learned Tuesday that her group had received $17,000 on Jan. 17 alone—enough money to spay and neuter at least 60 dogs. Ginger Adams Otis, WSJ, 19 Jan. 2022 The Humane Society of Utah will spay or neuter dogs for $125 and cats for $90 at its clinics in Murray and St. George. Kolbie Peterson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 24 Nov. 2021 The Golden Globe winner, 75, sat down for an interview (and some snuggles) with a shelter cat named Patches for PETA's new campaign, urging pet owners to spay and neuter their animals. Glenn Garner, PEOPLE.com, 28 Oct. 2021 After being given anesthesia, vet technicians will neuter or spay the cat, provide a rabies vaccine and implant a microchip. Wells Dusenbury, sun-sentinel.com, 8 Oct. 2021 Other shelters have had long-standing overcrowding issues because their states don’t have strong campaigns that encourage pet owners to spay and neuter their animals. Washington Post, 2 Sep. 2021 Many, if not most, dog owners in the United States never confront the question of whether to spay or neuter their pets. Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2020 See More 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
Kids Definition
spay
verb
ˈspā
spayed; spaying
: to remove the ovaries of (a female animal)
a spayed cat
Medical Definition
spay
transitive verb
ˈspā
spayed; spaying
: to remove the ovaries and uterus of (a female animal)
spays
verb
as in neuters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- neuters
- alters
- castrates
- emasculates
- sterilizes
- fixes
- gelds
- desexes