castration
Americannoun
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the removal of the testes.
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the removal of the ovaries.
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Psychology. the rendering or condition of impotency, literally or metaphorically, as a result of psychological means, especially the willful threat to a person's masculinity or femininity.
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the deprivation of strength, power, or efficiency.
the castration of our morale by a ruthless leader.
Etymology
Origin of castration
First recorded in 1400–50; from Old French or Latin castrātiōn- stem of castrātiō “emasculation”; castrat(e) ( def. ), -ion ( def. )
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.
Lead author Mike Garratt of the University of Otago explains that only castration, not vasectomy, increased male lifespan.
From Science Daily • Jan. 16, 2026
Until 1967, homosexuality was still criminalised in England, and was punishable by imprisonment or chemical castration.
From BBC • Aug. 30, 2025
The National Conference of State Legislatures said it is unaware of any states that currently have laws in place, like the bill proposed in Louisiana, that would specifically allow judges to impose surgical castration.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 3, 2024
Maybe there’s some over-determined way to be like, “Oh, did my desire all come down to questions about castration anxiety manifested in a cactus chucked out the window by my older brother?”
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 17, 2023
The process of taming almost always involves the castration of males.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
