penis

play

noun pe·nis \ˈpē-nəs\

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

With the exception of a few species, most male birds don't have penises.

— National Geographic, "Watch the Awkward Balancing Act of Seagull Mating", 1 June 2017
Hood points out that bed bug males use a hypodermic needle penises to simply pierce the female abdomen.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Why Seed Beetles Are Caught in a “Sexual Arms Race”", 30 May 2017
The patient developed complications that required months of rebuilding his penis.

— justin mayo, Seattle Times, "A one-week snapshot of Swedish surgeries", 26 May 2017
Hair volume has replaced penis size as a virility marker. 2.

— bruce mccall, The New Yorker, "Washington, D.C., Job Fair", 20 May 2017
Hair volume has replaced penis size as a virility marker.

— bruce mccall, New Yorker, "Washington, D.C., Job Fair", 20 May 2017

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!

First Known Use: 1578

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

play

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

play

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

play

noun pe·nis \ˈpē-nəs\

Medical Definition of penis

plural

penes

\ˈpē-(ˌ)nēz\play 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