neuter

1 of 3

adjective

neu·​ter ˈnü-tər 

ˈnyü-

1

a

: of, relating to, or constituting the gender that ordinarily includes most words or grammatical forms referring to things classed as neither masculine nor feminine

b

: neither active nor passive : intransitive

2

: taking no side : neutral

3

: lacking or having imperfectly developed or nonfunctional generative organs

neuter

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: a noun, pronoun, adjective, or inflectional form or class of the neuter gender

b

: the neuter gender

2

: one that is neutral

3

a

: worker sense 2

b

: a spayed or castrated animal

neuter

3 of 3

verb

neutered; neutering; neuters

transitive verb

1

: to castrate or spay (an animal) : alter

a neutered cat

2

: to remove the force or effectiveness of (someone or something)

Democrats say those changes would effectively neuter the bureau and hand the financial industry yet another victory over the little guy.

—Michael Crowley

Synonyms

Verb

• alter
• desex
• fix

Examples of neuter in a Sentence

Adjective

The pronoun “it” is neuter.

Verb

She had her dog neutered by the veterinarian.

The bill was neutered by the changes made by the legislature.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Adoption fee: $100 including microchip registration, spay/neuter and up-to-date vaccinations and a one-year license if his new home is in the jurisdiction of San Diego Humane Society’s Department of Animal Services. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 June 2024

The all-volunteer rescue, which adopts out about 250 cats and kittens each year, also offers TNR (trap, neuter, return) services, collecting strays to be neutered and vaccinated then released back to where they were found. —Phaedra Trethan, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024

Noun

There are even brackets for spays/neuters as well as household pets and moggies (a mixed-breed cat). —Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 25 Oct. 2024

Even more crucial, the narrative’s creamy charm neuters the greater matters that the movie evokes: crises of faith. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2024

Verb

The nonprofit also has veterinarian professionals on site to help set up pets getting spayed or neutered, and there is also a volunteer on site that clips animals’ nails. —Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 29 Nov. 2024

Without neutering, male cats are more likely to roam far from home, according to the Humane Society of the United States. —Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 16 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English neutre, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French neutre, from Latin neuter, literally, neither, from ne- not + uter which of two — more at no, whether entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

neuter

1 of 3 adjective

neu·​ter ˈn(y)üt-ər 

1

: relating to or being the class of words that ordinarily includes most of those referring to things that are neither male nor female

a neuter noun

the neuter gender

2

: lacking sex organs

also : having imperfectly developed sex organs

neuter

2 of 3 noun

1

a

: a word or form of the neuter gender

b

: the neuter gender

2

: worker sense 2

neuter

3 of 3 verb

: castrate, alter sense 2

Medical Definition

neuter

1 of 2 noun

neu·​ter ˈn(y)üt-ər 

: a spayed or castrated animal (as a cat)

neuter

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to castrate or spay (an animal) : alter