posterior

adjective

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pos·te·ri·or | \ pō-ˈstir-ē-ər

, pä- \

Definition of posterior

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : later in time : subsequent

2 : situated behind: such as

a : caudal

b of the human body or its parts : dorsal

3 of a plant part : adaxial, superior

posterior

noun

pos·te·ri·or | \ pä-ˈstir-ē-ər

, pō- \

Definition of posterior (Entry 2 of 2)

: the hinder parts of the body specifically : buttocks

Other Words from posterior Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about posterior

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Synonyms & Antonyms for posterior

Synonyms: Adjective

Synonyms: Noun

backside,
behind,
booty
(also bootie)
[slang],
bottom,
breech,
bum,
buns,
butt,
buttocks,
caboose,
can,
cheeks,
derriere
(or derrière),
duff,
fanny,
fundament,
hams,
haunches,
heinie
[slang],
hunkers,
keister
(also keester)
[slang],
nates,
rear,
rear end,
rump,
seat,
tail,
tail end,
tush
[slang]

Antonyms: Adjective

Did You Know?

Posterior comes from the Latin word posterus, meaning "coming after". Posterior is often used as a technical term in biology and medicine to refer to the back side of things, and is the opposite of anterior, which refers to the front side. For example, as more people took up running as a sport, doctors began to see an increase in stress fractures along the posterior as well as the anterior surface of the lower leg bones. In some technical fields, posterior may mean "later". When used as a noun, posterior simply means "buttocks".

Examples of posterior in a Sentence

Adjective the posterior part of the brain the chapel's posterior location in the church serves to make it a quiet retreat Noun The man squeezed his large posterior into the chair. the baseball players were always slapping one another on the posterior

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective While your core plays an important role in your posture, the muscles in your posterior chain (or the back of your body) are vital too. — Christa Sgobba, SELF, "A Bodyweight Core and Back Routine That’ll Help You Stand Tall," 29 Apr. 2021 The device—attached by a wire to a computer—aimed sound waves down into a region of the brain called the posterior parietal cortex, which is involved in planning movements. — Kelly Servick, Science | AAAS, "Ultrasound reads monkey brains, opening new way to control machines with thought," 22 Mar. 2021 And that’s interesting because the posterior cingulate cortex is an area of the brain that monitors conflict and reinforces learning. — Alison Escalante, Forbes, "New Research: Our Brains Adjust Our Opinions To Fit In With Our Group," 12 Mar. 2021 The addition of the posterior method to the testing regimen for those in quarantine is not going down well with everyone, prompting widespread discussion and some outrage, the Washington Post reports. — Chronicle Staff, San Francisco Chronicle, "Coronavirus news from the Bay Area: Jan. 21-27, 2021," 6 Feb. 2021 For example, short steps mimicking climbing stairs will engage the quads more than longer strides, which will work more of the posterior chain—the hamstrings, glutes, and even the muscles of your back if your arms are involved, Dinkins explains. — Amy Marturana Winderl, SELF, "What to Look for When Buying an Elliptical," 25 Jan. 2021 The nozzle offers a vortex water stream, a posterior wash, and a soft feminine wash with bubble infusion technology. — Stack Commerce, Popular Science, "Increase your personal hygiene with the most advanced bidet on the market," 20 Dec. 2020 Shoulder pains continued until he was further diagnosed in 2019 with 'posterior labral tear of his left shoulder,' which means that the cartilage around his left shoulder joint has been torn. — Tamara Fuentes, Seventeen, "BTS's Suga Gives Update After Shoulder Surgery and Thanks ARMY for Support," 9 Nov. 2020 Last November after taking a hit against Mississippi State, his right hip was dislocated and his posterior wall was fractured. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Column: Chargers’ Herbert ahead of Tua, but Dolphins rookie QB gets win in first start," 1 Nov. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Some understeer has been engineered into the independent double-wishbone suspension, and the NSX is not prone to tail-out antics as its mid-engine layout and long posterior might suggest. — Robert Ross, Robb Report, "Car of the Week: Why the 2005 Acura NSX Is a Cult Classic," 29 Mar. 2021 His affinity for Princeton prompted him to have the school’s mascot, a tiger, tattooed on his posterior, a fact confirmed to reporters decades later by his wife aboard a plane taking them to China. — Matthew Lee, ajc, "Longtime Reagan Secretary of State George Shultz dies at 100," 7 Feb. 2021 His affinity for Princeton prompted him to have the school's mascot, a tiger, tattooed on his posterior, a fact confirmed to reporters decades later by his wife aboard a plane taking them to China. — Arkansas Online, "Reagan's longtime secretary of state George P. Shultz dies," 7 Feb. 2021 His affinity for Princeton prompted him to have the school’s mascot, a tiger, tattooed on his posterior, a fact confirmed to reporters decades later by his wife aboard a plane taking them to China. — Matthew Lee, The Christian Science Monitor, "George P. Shultz: An American titan of building global trust," 7 Feb. 2021 His affinity for Princeton prompted him to have the school’s mascot, a tiger, tattooed on his posterior, a fact confirmed to reporters decades later by his wife aboard a plane taking them to China. — Matthew Lee, Chron, "Reagan's longtime secretary of state George P. Shultz dies," 7 Feb. 2021 But her new implants — gifts — made her much cheerier, And lifted Gramps, her pants and her posterior. — Washington Post, "Style Invitational Week 1416: The Year in Redo, Part 2," 23 Dec. 2020 What’s more, its nozzle system includes a signature vortex water stream, excellent posterior wash, and softer feminine wash with bubble infusion technology. — Popular Science, "Here are the top 25 deals from the PopSci Shop from this week," 22 Oct. 2020 The lower portion of the tibia forms the roof and medial (inside) of the ankle, while the lower portion of the fibula forms the lateral (outside) and posterior (back) of the ankle. — Ellen J. Horrow, USA TODAY, "Explaining Cowboys QB Dak Prescott's compound fracture and ankle dislocation," 12 Oct. 2020

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