rectus

noun

rec·​tus ˈrek-təs 

plural recti ˈrek-ˌtī 

-ˌtē

: any of several straight muscles (as of the abdomen)

Examples of rectus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Unlike the rectus abdominis, which covers the front of the abdomen and mainly bends your torso forward, your obliques control rotation, resist unwanted twisting and keep your rib cage stacked over your pelvis. —Dana Santas, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025

Because that removes the base of support, all of your core (your rectus abdominis, obliques, transverse abdominis, and even pelvic floor) has to really fire to keep you from tipping over. —Christa Sgobba, SELF, 5 Sep. 2025

Another factor that can affect the size of a woman's bump is a condition called diastasis recti, which is when the left and right sides of the rectus abdomens muscles separate. —Jessica Migala, Health.com, 26 June 2017

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from rectus musculus straight muscle

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rectus

• pectus
• conspectus
• prospectus

Kids Definition

rectus

noun

rec·​tus ˈrek-təs 

plural recti -ˌtī 

-ˌtē

: any of several straight muscles (as of the abdomen)

Medical Definition

rectus

noun

rec·​tus ˈrek-təs 

plural recti -ˌtī 

1

: any of several straight muscles (as the rectus abdominis or the rectus femoris)

2

: any of four extraocular muscles of the eyeball that arise from the border of the optic foramen and run forward to insert into the sclera of the eyeball:

a

: one that is the thinnest and narrowest and inserts into the superior aspect of the sclera

called also rectus superior, superior rectus

b

: one that is the longest, arises by two heads, and inserts into the lateral aspect of the sclera

called also lateral rectus, rectus lateralis

c

: one that is the broadest and inserts into the medial aspect of the sclera

called also medial rectus, rectus medialis

d

: one that inserts into the inferior aspect of the sclera

called also inferior rectus, rectus inferior