neuter

American  

[noo-ter, nyoo-] / ˈnu tər, ˈnyu- /

adjective

1. Grammar.

   1. noting or pertaining to a gender that refers to things classed as neither masculine nor feminine.

   2. (of a verb) intransitive.

2. Zoology, Botany. having no organs of reproduction; without sex; asexual.

3. Zoology. having imperfectly developed sexual organs, as the worker bees and ants.

4. neutral; siding with no one.

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noun

1. Grammar.

   1. the neuter gender.

   2. a noun of that gender.

   3. another element marking that gender.

   4. an intransitive verb.

2. an animal made sterile by castration or spaying.

3. Zoology. a neuter insect.

4. a person or thing that is neutral.

verb (used with object)

1. Veterinary Science. to spay or castrate (a dog, cat, etc.).

neuter British  

/ ˈnjuːtə /

adjective

1. grammar

   1. denoting or belonging to a gender of nouns which for the most part have inanimate referents or do not specify the sex of their referents

   2. ( as noun )

      German ``Mädchen'' (meaning ``girl'') is a neuter

2. (of animals and plants) having nonfunctional, underdeveloped, or absent reproductive organs

3. sexless or giving no indication of sex

   a neuter sort of name

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noun

1. a sexually underdeveloped female insect, such as a worker bee

2. a castrated animal, esp a domestic animal

3. a flower in which the stamens and pistil are absent or nonfunctional

verb

1. (tr) to castrate or spay (an animal)

Etymology

Origin of neuter

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin neuter “neither (of two),” equivalent to ne “not” + uter “either (of two)”; replacing Middle English neutre, from Middle French, from Latin, as above

Example Sentences

She added: "Even for a working family that is doing okay, to neuter, chip and vaccinate a cat you're looking at over £200. That's not something to be taken lightly."

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026

A German listener can instantly narrow the options, ruling out masculine or neuter singular nouns.

From Science Daily • Feb. 20, 2026

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

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

To admit facts but strip them of consequence is to neuter the Fourth Amendment’s reasonableness standard.

From Slate • Apr. 15, 2025

“Thank you for your call. Please spay or neuter your pets.”

From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty

Related Words

• castrate
• mutilate
• spay
• sterilize