Dictionary.com

posterior

[ po-steer-ee-er, poh- ]
/ pɒˈstɪər i ər, poʊ- /
See synonyms for posterior on Thesaurus.com

adjective

situated behind or at the rear of; hinder (opposed to anterior).
coming after in order, as in a series.
coming after in time; later; subsequent (sometimes followed by to).
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.
Botany. toward the back and near the main axis, as the upper lip of a flower.

noun

the hinder parts or rump of the body; buttocks.

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Origin of posterior

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

synonym study for posterior

1. See back1.

OTHER WORDS FROM posterior

pos·te·ri·or·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to posterior

backside, rump, derriere, rear end, fanny, behind, last, back, hind, following, latter, buttocks, duff, bottom, seat, tail, tush, can, butt, moon

Example sentences from the Web for posterior

British Dictionary definitions for posterior

posterior
/ (pɒˈstɪərɪə) /

adjective

noun

the buttocks; rump
statistics a posterior probability
Compare anterior

Derived forms of posterior

posteriorly, adverb

Word Origin for posterior

C16: from Latin: latter, from posterus coming next, from post after
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for posterior

posterior
[ pŏ-stîr′ē-ər, pō- ]

adj.

Located behind a part or toward the rear of a structure.
Relating to the caudal end of the body in quadrupeds or the dorsal side in humans.
Near the tail or caudal end of certain embryos.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.