posterior

[po-steer-ee-er, poh-]

adjective

1. situated behind or at the rear of; hinder (anterior ).

2. coming after in order, as in a series.

3. coming after in time; later; subsequent (sometimes followed byto ).

4. Anatomy, Zoology.

   1. (in quadrupeds) pertaining to or toward the rear or caudal end of the body.

   2. (in humans and other primates) pertaining to or toward the back plane of the body, equivalent to the dorsal surface of quadrupeds.

5. Botany.,  toward the back and near the main axis, as the upper lip of a flower.

noun

1. the hinder parts or rump of the body; buttocks.

posterior

/ pɒˈstɪərɪə /

adjective

1. situated at the back of or behind something

2. coming after or following another in a series

3. coming after in time

4. zoology (of animals) of or near the hind end

5. botany (of a flower) situated nearest to the main stem

6. anatomy dorsal or towards the spine

noun

1. the buttocks; rump

2. statistics a posterior probability

Other Word Forms

• posteriorly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of posterior¹

1525–35; < Latin, comparative of posterus coming after, derivative of post after

Word History and Origins

Origin of posterior¹

C16: from Latin: latter, from posterus coming next, from post after

Synonym Study

See back ¹.

Example Sentences

"Since Terry never won 'Rear of the Year' I think his posterior preserved for posterity in Colwyn Bay seems right. I'm absolutely behind it."

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When strength training later in life, more attention must be paid to building strength around the joints, Herbert says, and strengthening the posterior, or back, chain of the body.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

As a parent, the first time I saw one of my sons talk out of their posterior on a subject they knew nothing about, I laughed.

Read more on Salon

Donny is certainly demented, but he’s not nearly delusional enough that he didn’t recognize the single most ham-handed posterior puckering since “this Nobel award” was ever talked about.

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Research has shown that the premotor and posterior parietal cortices, along with the temporoparietal junction, are active in the brain when we are locating or thinking about ourselves.

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Related Words

• backside 
• derriere 
• fanny 
• rear end 
• rump