dorsal

1 of 4

noun (1)

dor·​sal ˈdȯr-səl 

variant of dossal

: an ornamental cloth hung behind and above an altar

dorsal

2 of 4

adjective

dor·​sal ˈdȯr-səl 

1

: relating to or situated near or on the back especially of an animal or of one of its parts

2

: abaxial

dorsally

ˈdȯr-sə-lē 

adverb

dorsal

3 of 4

noun (2)

: a dorsally located part

especially : a thoracic vertebra

dossal

4 of 4

noun (3)

dos·​sal ˈdä-səl 

variants or dorsal

ˈdȯr-səl 

or dossel

ˈdä-səl 

: an ornamental cloth hung behind and above an altar

Did you know?

The most famous use of dorsal is with fin, whether it conjures the ominous dorsal fin of sharks or the benign, even benevolent, image of porpoises and dolphins. Less well-known is the botanical sense of dorsal, meaning "facing away from the axis or stem" (thus the underside of a leaf can be the dorsal side), or the linguistic sense referring to articulations made with the back part of the tongue (\k\ and \g\, for example). Dorsal can be used of non-living things too (in particular, the backs of airplanes), as can its opposite, ventral, which means "relating to the belly." Dorsal descends from Latin dorsum ("back"), which also gave us dossier (via French, for a bundle of documents labeled on the back) and reredos ("an ornamental screen or partition wall behind an altar").

Examples of dorsal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This reflexive behavior—reorienting themselves in response to the brightest object in their field of vision, natural or artificial—is called the dorsal light response. —Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 May 2026

Another stealth feature is the dorsal air inlets on the upper surface of the fuselage. —David Szondy april 21, New Atlas, 21 Apr. 2026

Adjective

Another stealth feature is the dorsal air inlets on the upper surface of the fuselage. —David Szondy april 21, New Atlas, 21 Apr. 2026

Unlike most frog species that rely on water for egg development, this species uses a dorsal pouch to carry and nurture its young. —Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Late Latin dorsalis, from Latin dorsum back

Noun (3)

Medieval Latin dossale, dorsale, from neuter of Late Latin dorsalis dorsal

First Known Use

Adjective

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1831, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1851, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing dorsal

• dorsal fin
• dorsal lip
• dorsal root
• dorsal root ganglion

Rhymes for dorsal

• morsel

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Kids Definition

dorsal

adjective

dor·​sal

ˈdȯr-səl

: relating to or situated near or on the back (as of an animal)

dorsally

-sə-lē

adverb

Medical Definition

dorsal

1 of 2 adjective

dor·​sal ˈdȯr-səl 

1

a

: being or located near, on, or toward the upper surface of an animal (as a quadruped) opposite the lower or ventral surface

b

: being or located near, on, or toward the back or posterior part of the human body

2

chiefly British : thoracic

dorsally

-sə-lē 

adverb

dorsal

2 of 2 noun

: a dorsally located part

especially : a thoracic vertebra