posterior

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

/ pɒˈstɪər i ər, poʊ- /

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.

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

Nearby words

Origin of posterior

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

Related formspos·te·ri·or·ly, adverb

Synonym study

1. See back¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for posteriorly

The lower end of the humerus could be felt to be decidedly thickened both anteriorly and posteriorly.
Castes and Tribes of Southern India|Edgar Thurston
No facet on superior margin of centrum either anteriorly or posteriorly.
The Beaked Whales of the Family Ziphidae|Frederick True
The plastron is united to the carapace by ligamentous tissue and is somewhat flexible anteriorly and posteriorly.
North American Recent Soft-shelled Turtles (Family Trionychidae)|Robert G. Webb
In this race, which is common in Calcutta, the zoœcia are almost circular but truncate or concave anteriorly and posteriorly.
Freshwater Sponges, Hydroids & Polyzoa|Nelson Annandale

If he remains, the posteriorly situated crow takes a peck at his tail.
Jungle Folk|Douglas Dewar

British Dictionary definitions for posteriorly

posterior

/ (pɒˈstɪərɪə) /

adjective

situated at the back of or behind something

coming after or following another in a series

coming after in time

zoology (of animals) of or near the hind end

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

anatomy dorsal or towards the spine

noun

the buttocks; rump

statistics a posterior probability

Compare anterior

Derived Formsposteriorly, 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

Word Origin and History for posteriorly

posterior

adj.

1530s, "later," from Latin posterior "after, later, behind," comparative of posterus "coming after, subsequent," from post "after" (see post-). Meaning "situated behind" is from 1630s.

posterior

"buttocks," euphemistic, 1610s, from posterior (adj.). Earlier it meant "those who come after, posterity" (1530s). Cf. Lithuanian pasturas "the last, the hindmost," from pas "at, by."

Medicine definitions for posteriorly

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.