posterior

[ po-steer-ee-er, poh- ]

adjective

1. situated behind or at the rear of; hinder ( anterior ).
2. coming after in order, as in a series.
3. coming after in time; later; subsequent (sometimes followed by to ).
4. Anatomy, Zoology.
   1. (in quadrupeds) pertaining to or toward the rear or caudal end of the body.
   2. (in humans and other primates) pertaining to or toward the back plane of the body, equivalent to the dorsal surface of quadrupeds.
5. Botany. toward the back and near the main axis, as the upper lip of a flower.

noun

1. the hinder parts or rump of the body; buttocks.

posterior

/ pɒˈstɪərɪə /

adjective

1. situated at the back of or behind something
2. coming after or following another in a series
3. coming after in time
4. zoology (of animals) of or near the hind end
5. botany (of a flower) situated nearest to the main stem
6. anatomy dorsal or towards the spine

noun

1. the buttocks; rump
2. statistics a posterior probability

Derived Forms

• posˈteriorly, adverb

Other Words From

• pos·teri·or·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of posterior¹

1525–35; < Latin, comparative of posterus coming after, derivative of post after

Word History and Origins

Origin of posterior¹

C16: from Latin: latter, from posterus coming next, from post after

Synonym Study

See back ¹.

Example Sentences

Instead, we talk out of our collective posteriors.

From Salon

Dyeing poison frogs, Dendrobates tinctorius, have been shown to tap their posterior toes in response to a range of prey sizes, from small fruit flies to large crickets.

From Science Daily

Dr. Keith Meister performed the surgery in Arlington, Texas, to repair what Hollander described as a small tear in the posterior of Brash’s ulnar collateral ligament.

From Seattle Times

A few fans were dumbfounded: What was the state of his posterior, and other parts?

From Los Angeles Times

Panel recommendations include transvaginal ultrasound of the posterior compartment, observation of the relative positioning of the uterus and ovaries, and the uterine sliding sign maneuver to improve the detection of endometriosis.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• backside
• derriere
• fanny
• rear end
• rump