penis

American  

[pee-nis] / ˈpi nɪs /

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

plural

penises, penes

1. the primary organ used for insemination and, in male mammals, urination.

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penis British  

/ ˈpiːnɪs /

noun

1. the male organ of copulation in higher vertebrates, also used for urine excretion in many mammals

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penis Scientific  

/ pē′nĭs /

plural

penises

1. The male reproductive organ of mammals and some reptiles and birds. In mammals, the penis contains the urethra, which carries urine from the bladder and releases sperm during reproduction.

2. A similar organ found in the males of some invertebrate animals.

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penis Cultural  

1. The organ of the male reproductive system through which semen passes out of the body during sexual intercourse. The penis is also an organ of urination.

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Other Word Forms

• penial adjective
• penile adjective

Etymology

Origin of penis

First recorded in 1685–95, from Latin pēnis “tail, penis”; akin to Greek péos, Sanskrit pásas

Explanation

The penis is the male sexual organ. Boys and men and male animals all have penises. Kids and teens often giggle at the word penis, but it's just a word for a body part like "arm" or "leg." Well, a penis is a little different, since it's the organ males use for sex and urinating. Some men take a lot of pride in their penis, which in slang is most often called a dick. However, if you're talking about a dick with a parent or teacher, or you're writing about one in a paper, penis is the word you want to use.

Example Sentences

The Gardasil 9 HPV vaccine protects against types of HPV that can cause cancers of the mouth, throat, vulva, vagina, penis and anus.

From Salon • Feb. 22, 2026

She leads nutrition education at the Feed Real Institute, an online certificate program founded in 2015 by Balaram, who also runs a company that sells air-dried dog treats like bull penis and rabbit feet.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

In 2023, Sir Keir told The Sunday Times that for "99.9%" of women "of course they haven't got a penis".

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2025

The prostate is shaped like a doughnut surrounding the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis.

From New York Times • Jan. 17, 2024

In many parts of the world and in many traditions, boys have the foreskin cut back or removed from the glans of the penis.

From "Facing the Lion" by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton and Herman Viola

Related Words

• member
• weenie