Meaning & use
unspayed
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivenot comparable
Not having had an operation to remove the ovaries, so still able to have babies.
Grammar: Describes a female animal that has not been spayed; it goes before a noun or after a linking verb.
Patterns
- an unspayed cat
- an unspayed female
The shelter will not adopt out an unspayed female without a follow-up appointment.
Our unspayed dog went into heat earlier than we expected.
Vets often recommend spaying an unspayed pet to prevent certain health problems.
Common combinations
- unspayed female
- The unspayed female was kept separate from the males.
- remain unspayed
- Some owners choose to let their pets remain unspayed.
- unspayed cat
- An unspayed cat can have several litters a year.
- unspayed dog
- The unspayed dog needed a special diet during her pregnancy.
Synonyms and how they differ
- unneutered
- This can describe either sex, but is used more often for males; unspayed is specific to females.
- intact
- A technical term meaning the reproductive organs are still present; it is more formal and used by breeders and vets.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: unspayed or unneutered?
unspayed vs unneutered
Unneutered can refer to either male or female animals, while unspayed is only for females.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'unspayed' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Unspayed refers specifically to a female animal that has not had its ovaries removed, so it can have babies. Option An is wrong because a male would be unneutered, not unspayed. Option C contradicts the meaning. Option D is not about reproductive status.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “unspayed”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.