anal

1 of 2

adjective

ˈā-nᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, situated near, or involving the anus

an anal fin

2

psychoanalytic theory

a

: of, relating to, characterized by, or being the stage of psychosexual development which follows the oral stage (see oral entry 1 sense 3) and during which the child is concerned especially with his or her feces

b

: of, relating to, characterized by, or being personality traits (such as parsimony, meticulousness, and ill humor) considered typical of fixation at the anal stage of development : anal-retentive

an anal disposition

—often used in nontechnical contexts to describe someone as extremely or excessively neat, careful, or precise

I have a mania for neatness in some matters that is almost anal.

—Joseph Heller

anally

ˈā-nᵊl-ē 

adverb

anal

2 of 2

abbreviation

1

analogy

2

analysis; analytic

Examples of anal in a Sentence

Adjective

He can be pretty anal about keeping his office neat.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Their scent comes from their anal gland and is smellier than skunk’s spray. —Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024

Another potential health issue is anal gland problems. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

The team sends people vaginal, penile or anal swabs with instructions to collect samples and mail the swab back to Johns Hopkins for analysis. —Sara Reardon, Scientific American, 20 Dec. 2023

Each ball was filled with cigarette filters that had been dampened with one or two drops from captive minks’ anal glands—an irresistible pheromone for wild minks following their powerful noses. —Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Jan. 2024

His prostate cancer diagnosis came three years after the death of his longtime love Farrah Fawcett, who died from anal cancer at 62. —and Jessica Wang, EW.com, 8 Dec. 2023

Winter recounts her experiments with butt plugs, fisting and anal intercourse, and catalogs her extramarital relationships — which range from brief encounters in seedy hotel rooms to romantic partnerships that last for years — in meticulous detail. —Alexandra Alter, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2024

But the way that happens is surprising: A sharpshooter creates a droplet of urine on top of a flexible appendage called an anal stylus. —Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Dec. 2023

The anal glands of dogs secrete unique scents that convey a wealth of information about the dog, such as its diet, gender, emotional state, and more. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 11 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from New Latin ānālis, from Latin ānus anus + -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1769, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing anal

• anal retentive
• anal-retentiveness

Kids Definition

anal

adjective

ˈān-ᵊl

: of, relating to, situated near, or involving the anus

anally

-ᵊl-ē

adverb

Medical Definition

anal

1 of 2 adjective

ˈān-ᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, or situated near the anus

the anal opening

anal fissures

2

a

: of, relating to, or characterized by the stage of psychosexual development in psychoanalytic theory that follows the oral stage and during which a child derives libidinal gratification from the expulsion and retention of the feces and conflict arises from parental demands regarding toilet training

During the anal stage, from about 18 months to 3 years, the sphincter muscles become sensitive and controllable and bowel and bladder retention and elimination become a source of gratification.

—David G. Myers, Psychology

b

: of, relating to, or characterized by personality traits (as orderliness, frugality, and obstinacy) considered typical of fixation at the anal stage of development : anal-retentive

—often used in nontechnical contexts to describe someone as extremely or excessively neat, careful, or precise compare genital sense 3, oral sense 3, phallic sense 2

anally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

anal

2 of 2 abbreviation

1

analysis

2

analytic

3

analyze