pec

noun

ˈpek 

plural pecs ˈpeks 

informal

: a muscle connecting the ventral walls of the chest with the bones of the upper arm and shoulder : pectoral muscle

—usually plural

His muscular pecs and biceps were vestiges of his short, happy life as a pro triathlete.

—Austin Murphy

Hunky Patrick Swayze got to flex his pecs as a surfer in Point Break …

—Jim Harwood

In this totally enjoyable film, Schwarzenegger is witty, charming, subtle, tough and most impressive—a Cary Grant with pecs.

—Ralph Novak

Examples of pec in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

However, that plan fell to pieces when Jones was forced from the card with a torn pec. —Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025

Last year, Taj Bradley strained a right pec muscle two weeks prior to Opening Day and did not take the mound until the second week of May. —Tom Layberger, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025

Bradley strained a pec muscle in the spring and began the season on the injured list. —John Romano, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2025

The defensive drop-off coincided with his torn pec, which took place in the loss to the Cardinals. —Kevin Fishbain, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

pec

noun

ˈpek 

: pectoralis

—usually used in plural

Geographical Definition

Peć

geographical name

ˈpech 

variants or Pejë

ˈpā-ə 

town in western Kosovo that was the seat of the patriarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Middle Ages population 49,000