anus

¹ American  

[ey-nuhs] / ˈeɪ nəs /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

anuses

1. the opening at the lower end of the alimentary canal, through which the solid refuse of digestion is excreted.

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-anus ² American  

1. a suffix occurring in scientific words of Latin origin.

   Platanus.

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anus British  

/ ˈeɪnəs /

noun

1. the excretory opening at the end of the alimentary canal

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anus Scientific  

/ ā′nəs /

1. The opening at the lower end of the digestive tract through which solid waste is excreted.

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anus Cultural  

1. The opening through which feces pass out of the body.

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Etymology

Origin of anus¹

First recorded in 1650–60, anus is from the Latin word ānus ring, anus

Origin of -anus²

< Latin -ānus; -an

Explanation

The anus is the hole in the middle of your buttocks. When you poop or fart, you're using your anus. When you talk about your anus, you're using a formal, scientific word. Many kids and adults are more likely to use a slangy term like butthole or bunghole when discussing their anus, but if you're speaking to adults or writing a paper, anus is the word you want. The anus might seem like a funny part of the body, and maybe it is, but it's also incredibly important. Without an anus, you'd die.

Example Sentences

You’re also at risk of developing hemorrhoids—swollen veins in the anus and lower rectum that can cause pain and bleeding—according to a study that came out last week.

From Slate • Sep. 12, 2025

Pinworms, for example, cause itchiness in the anus and primarily spread between young children and their families, affecting up to 15% of the population at any given time.

From Salon • May 18, 2025

So far, she has stuck her head in a box with snakes, eaten pizza topped with scorpions and cow anus, and faced electric shocks while crawling through a tunnel.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2023

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus.

From Science Daily • Nov. 17, 2023

At the second it was in position at the base of his tail, Richard Parker’s anus distended, and out of it, like a bubble-gum balloon, came a black sphere of excrement.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel