Synonyms

spay

¹ American

[spey] / speɪ /

verb (used with object)

Veterinary Medicine.

to remove the ovaries of (an animal).

spay ² American

[spey] / speɪ /

noun

a three-year-old male red deer.

spay British

/ speɪ /

verb

(tr) to remove the ovaries, and usually the uterus, from (a female animal)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

unspayed adjective

Etymology

Origin of spay¹

1375–1425; late Middle English spayen < Anglo-French espeïer to cut with a sword ( Old French espeer ), derivative of espee sword; see épée

Origin of spay²

1375–1425; late Middle English < ?

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Gabrielle Amster was director of the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace from 2021 to 2025 and is credited with increasing adoptions and improving access to spay and neuter services, according to the mayor’s office.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

His legislation would also provide free vaccinations and spay or neuter services to the felines.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

The solutions ranged from helping owners keep their pets to better customer service for potential adopters to letting adopters take dogs home before returning for spay or neuter operations.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2024

A dog spay is on average about £300.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2024

To spade a garden is to dig it up; to spay a cat is to keep her from having kittens.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023