ass

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈas 

1

: any of several hardy gregarious (see gregarious sense 1a) 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 

1

a

informal + impolite : buttocks

—often used in emphatic reference to a specific person

Get your ass over here.

saved my ass

b

informal + impolite : anus

2

offensive : sexual intercourse

ass

3 of 3

adverb

informal + impolite

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

fancy-ass

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• burro
• donkey
• jackass
• moke [British slang]

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

Was his ass sore afterwards?), only to later confront herself with the idea that loving someone might require her to set them free. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 12 June 2025

To see 30,000 people on their feet and cheer after watching something, that kind of gratification for him and myself and everyone else that was involved in PBR — everyone who worked their asses off in six days. —Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2025

Last Word This equal parts cocktail may knock you on your ass. —Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 31 May 2025

The Clippers were playing in Houston and the Clippers were whipping the Rockets’ ass. —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2025

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)

circa 1627, 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