ass

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈas 

1

: any of several hardy gregarious (see gregarious sense 1b) African or Asian perissodactyl mammals (genus Equus) smaller than the horse and having long ears

especially : an African mammal (E. africanus) that is the ancestor of the donkey

2

informal + impolite : a stupid, stubborn, or detestable person

a pompous ass

made an ass of himself

He was an ass to her, dissing her script (which he apparently lost), telling her women couldn't be artists and that she looked so much prettier with makeup on.

—Lauren Piester

—often compounded with a preceding adjective

Don't be a smart-ass.

ass

2 of 3

noun (2)

ˈas 

variants or arse

ˈas, 

ˈärs 

plural asses or arses

1

a

informal + impolite : buttocks

—often used in emphatic reference to a specific person

Get your ass over here.

saved my ass

see also my ass

b

informal + impolite : anus

2

offensive : sexual intercourse

see also:

haul ass kick ass kiss ass kiss one's ass

ass

3 of 3

adverb

informal + impolite

—used as a postpositive intensive especially with words of derogatory implication

fancy-ass

Synonyms of ass

Noun (1)

• donkey

Examples of ass in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the farm kept a few asses for hauling hay in and out of the field

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Paul Wall and Chamillionaire had riding around on big-ass rims. — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026

The very first episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians in 2007 opens up with the size of her ass being pointed out by her mother, Kris Jenner. — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 27 Oct. 2026

That, paired with his complete ineptitude when MacKinney tried to coup his ass, has really shattered Colum’s sense of self. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026

The woman makes a gesture meaning, Comfortable enough on that little seat, with that pill up your ass, hon? — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English assa, probably from Old Irish asan, from Latin asinus

Noun (2) and Adverb

Middle English ars, ers, from Old English ærs, ears; akin to Old High German & Old Norse ars buttocks, Greek orrhos buttocks, oura tail

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

circa 1920, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ass

• bass
• bras
• brass
• casse
• chasse
• class
• crass
• das
• dass
• frass
• gas
• lass

Kids Definition

ass

noun

ˈas

1

: any of several mammals resembling but smaller than the related horses and having a shorter mane, shorter hair on the tail, and longer ears

especially : donkey

2

informal : a stupid or stubborn person