anus

¹ American  

[ey-nuhs] / ˈeɪ nəs /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

anuses

1. the opening at the lower end of the alimentary canal, through which the solid refuse of digestion is excreted.

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-anus ² American  

1. a suffix occurring in scientific words of Latin origin.

   Platanus.

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anus British  

/ ˈeɪnəs /

noun

1. the excretory opening at the end of the alimentary canal

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anus Scientific  

/ ā′nəs /

1. The opening at the lower end of the digestive tract through which solid waste is excreted.

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anus Cultural  

1. The opening through which feces pass out of the body.

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Etymology

Origin of anus¹

First recorded in 1650–60, anus is from the Latin word ānus ring, anus

Origin of -anus²

< Latin -ānus; -an

Explanation

The anus is the hole in the middle of your buttocks. When you poop or fart, you're using your anus. When you talk about your anus, you're using a formal, scientific word. Many kids and adults are more likely to use a slangy term like butthole or bunghole when discussing their anus, but if you're speaking to adults or writing a paper, anus is the word you want. The anus might seem like a funny part of the body, and maybe it is, but it's also incredibly important. Without an anus, you'd die.

Example Sentences

You’re also at risk of developing hemorrhoids—swollen veins in the anus and lower rectum that can cause pain and bleeding—according to a study that came out last week.

From Slate • Sep. 12, 2025

The latest discoveries include a map of the gut all the way from the mouth, down the oesphagus, into the stomach and intestines and out the anus.

From BBC • Nov. 20, 2024

The head-tail axis determines the position of the two body openings, the mouth and anus.

From Science Daily • Jun. 18, 2024

This bacteria comes from the mother’s anus as the baby is positioned head down, facing its mother’s back, with its chin tucked to its chest.

From Salon • May 10, 2024

At the second it was in position at the base of his tail, Richard Parker’s anus distended, and out of it, like a bubble-gum balloon, came a black sphere of excrement.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel