castrate

[ kas-treyt ]

verb (used with object)

, cas·trat·ed, cas·trat·ing.

1. to remove the testes of; emasculate; geld.
2. to remove the ovaries of.
3. Psychology. to render impotent, literally or metaphorically, by psychological means, especially by threatening a person's masculinity or femininity.
4. to deprive of strength, power, or efficiency; weaken:

   Without those ten new submarines, our navy will be castrated.

noun

1. a castrated person or animal.

castrate

/ kæˈstreɪt /

verb

1. to remove the testicles of; emasculate; geld
2. to deprive of vigour, masculinity, etc
3. to remove the ovaries of; spay
4. to expurgate or censor (a book, play, etc)

Derived Forms

• casˈtrator, noun
• casˈtration, noun

Other Words From

• cas·tra·tion [kas-, trey, -sh, uh, n], noun
• cas·tra·tor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of castrate¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin castrātus, past participle of castrāre “to geld,” equivalent to castr- “geld” + -ātus past participle suffix; -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of castrate¹

C17: from Latin castrāre to emasculate, geld

Example Sentences

Remarkably, a wave of litigation is now rising to castrate Bostock even within Title VII. In this battleground, Project 2025’s exact words matter, and employers are now arguing that they, too, can discriminate as long as they not do that in the narrow context of “hiring and firing.”

From Slate

“I believe authorities should round them up and castrate the boys,” said Julie Moreau, founder of Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary in eastern Big Bear Valley.

From Los Angeles Times

At around a year old, surgery was performed to entirely remove his penis, to castrate him, and he was told that he was a girl.

From Salon

“She’ll castrate me,” he says in a line that spells trouble not only for his marriage but also for Monsef’s play.

From Los Angeles Times

Their task was to castrate the stallion — a necessary surgery to keep the animal from becoming uncontrollable and a danger to its owner and to other animals.

From New York Times

Related Words

• mutilate
• neuter
• spay
• sterilize