penis

noun pe·nis \ ˈpē-nəs \

|Updated on: 18 Aug 2018

Definition of penis

plural penises also penes play \ˈpē-(ˌ)nēz\

: a male erectile organ of copulation by which urine and semen are discharged from the body and that develops from the same embryonic mass of tissue as the clitoris

See penis defined for English-language learners

See penis defined for kids

Recent Examples of penis from the Web

There are records of Japanese men sheathing their penises with primitive condoms made of stuff like leather (erotic) and tortoiseshell (no thanks).

— carolyn todd, Allure, "The History and Evolution of Birth Control in America," 12 July 2018
Netflix’s mockumentary series American Vandal, which deals with a rash of spray painted penises at a smalltown high school, is now a Peabody Award-winner.

— nick vadala, Philly.com, "Phallus-focused true crime comedy 'American Vandal,' co-created by Exton native, wins prestigious Peabody Award," 19 Apr. 2018
Alicia Walker, an assistant professor of sociology at the Missouri State University, is asking people to send in pictures of their penises for a scientific study, according to The Springfield News-Leader.

— josh magness, kansascity, "This professor wants to see pictures of your penis — for science," 26 June 2018
For another, a female student was allegedly told to shoot 10 penises, while a male counterpart was asked to snap 10 vaginas.

— malcolm gay, BostonGlobe.com, "Sex, power, and photography. At MassArt, how far is too far?," 4 Apr. 2018
Samples are cultured from the swabs taken from the patients' penises.

— sophie cousins, CNN, "Wherever you are in the world, time is running out for treating gonorrhea," 15 May 2018
Still, 45 percent of the men considered their penises too small.

— anna pulley, RedEye Chicago, "Ask Anna: What size penis do women prefer?," 7 Mar. 2018
Kraetke admitted to drawing penises in the dust on the floor and on someone’s truck at work as well as writing comments critical of the DNR’s recent realignment in the dust on truck tailgates.

— todd richmond, The Seattle Times, "State ranger fired after urinating on truck, bullying worker," 21 Apr. 2018
In the series, he is accused of spray painting 27 crudely drawn penises on 27 cars in the school’s faculty parking lot.

— nick vadala, Philly.com, "Phallus-focused true crime comedy 'American Vandal,' co-created by Exton native, wins prestigious Peabody Award," 19 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'penis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of penis

Latin, penis, tail; akin to Old High German faselt penis, Greek peos

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1578

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

PENIS Defined for English Language Learners

penis

noun

Definition of penis for English Language Learners

: the part of the body of men and male animals that is used for sex and through which urine leaves the body

PENIS Defined for Kids

penis

noun pe·nis \ ˈpē-nəs \

Definition of penis for Students

plural penises also penes \-ˌnēz\

: a male organ in mammals through which urine and sperm leave the body

Medical Dictionary

penis

noun pe·nis \ ˈpē-nəs \

medical Definition of penis

plural penes play \ˈpē-(ˌ)nēz\ or penises

: the male erectile copulatory organ of a higher vertebrate animal developing from the genital tubercle that in mammals including humans usually functions as the channel by which urine and semen are discharged from the body and is typically a cylindrical organ that is suspended from the pubic arch, contains a pair of large lateral corpora cavernosa and a smaller ventromedial corpus cavernosum containing the urethra, and has a terminal glans enclosing the ends of the corpora cavernosa, covered by mucous membrane, and sheathed by a foreskin continuous with the skin covering the body of the organ