pelvic

American  

[pel-vik] / ˈpɛl vɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to the pelvis.

---

pelvic British  

/ ˈpɛlvɪk /

adjective

1. of, near, or relating to the pelvis

---

Etymology

Origin of pelvic

First recorded in 1820–30; pelv(is) + -ic

Explanation

Anything pelvic relates to the pelvis, which are the bones at the bottom of your spine, below your waist and above your legs. Elvis got in trouble for shaking his pelvic area on television. Pelvis refers the bowl-shaped bones right below your gut and include your hips. The pelvis is the center of your body, and anything pelvic is therefore important. Men don’t usually have to, but women go for pelvic exams. The pelvic area is crucial in childbirth. It’s also an important part of dance – no one’s getting in trouble for hip shaking these days!

Example Sentences

Pelvic floor therapy is used to either strengthen or relax these muscles through techniques including physical exercises, lifestyle modifications, and manual therapy, where the provider applies pressure to the pelvic area.

From Slate • Oct. 6, 2025

Pelvic floor therapy is a form of physical therapy focused on the group of muscles and tissues that support the bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs.

From Slate • Oct. 6, 2025

As founder of the Pelvic Floor Society, he drew heavily on claims he had made in medical publications about the success rates of the rectopexy mesh surgery he pioneered.

From BBC • May 12, 2025

Pelvic bones would help the determination but those were not recovered with the upper-part of the body.

From BBC • May 1, 2024

Pelvic Girdle.—The ilia of buckleyi, taurinus, and verrucigerus lack any indication of a crest on the shaft, whereas leprieurii has a low crest.

From A Synopsis of Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus Osteocephalus by Duellman, William E.