What does spay mean?
To spay an animal is to perform the surgical removal of its ovaries, permanently preventing it from reproducing. The term is used especially for female dogs, cats, and other companion animals, as well as livestock. Spaying is commonly recommended as part of responsible pet care because it prevents unwanted litters and may reduce the likelihood of certain reproductive illnesses. In casual veterinary contexts, “neuter” is often used more broadly, covering the sterilization of animals of any sex. For female animals, however, “spay” is the more specific term: the operation is known as a spay, and the animal is described as spayed afterward. The word can also sound similar to “spray,” but it refers to surgery rather than the scattering of liquid droplets. Spaying is distinct from temporary contraception and is intended to be permanent.
verbTo sterilize a female animal by surgically removing the ovaries, preventing it from reproducing.
- To sterilize a female animal by surgically removing the ovaries, with the intention of preventing it from reproducing.
"The veterinary clinic recommended that they spay their female dog before she reached six months old."
"The shelter spays every cat in its care before finding permanent homes for them."
"In veterinary medicine, spaying is a routine procedure for female dogs and cats."
Spaying prevents unwanted litters and can also reduce the risk of some reproductive diseases in female animals.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does spay come from?
The word entered English in the Middle English period and derives from an Old French verb meaning to cut or castrate. That French word was influenced by a Medieval Latin term associated with cutting. The original precise development of the Latin form is uncertain, but the English word ultimately comes from a vocabulary of animal surgery and husbandry.
Related word forms
How spay is actually used
Usually used of female animals. It is more precise than the broader terms “sterilize” and “castrate,” and is sometimes applied informally to female pets after surgery.
Easily confused with spay
To spay an animal is to sterilize it, whereas to spray something is to scatter it in fine droplets or mist.