adj
Uncommon
posterior
pos-TEER-ree-uh
Posterior (adj) means Located at or nearer the back of something, especially the body. Example: “The posterior part of the skull protects the brain stem.”
adj
1
Located at or nearer the back of something, especially the body.
"The posterior part of the skull protects the brain stem."
"A posterior fin helps the fish steer while swimming."
noun
1
(informal) The buttocks.
"He landed hard on his posterior after slipping on the ice."
2
(statistics) In Bayesian analysis, the updated probability of something being true after taking new evidence into account.
"The model combined the prior with new data to calculate the posterior."
How to use posterior
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishToward the back or rear — of the body, an object, or (in statistics) a revised probability.
Common mistake
The opposite is anterior (toward the front), not 'prior' — prior relates to time, not position.
Easily confused with
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like posterior.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- posteriors
- Comparative
- more posterior
- Superlative
- most posterior
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ part of the skull protects the brain stem.
Etymology
From Latin posterior, meaning 'that which comes after or behind,' the comparative form of posterus ('following').
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for posterior
See all rhymes for posterior →Frequently asked questions
What does “posterior” mean?
The word “posterior” means located at or nearer the back of something, especially the body. In plain terms, toward the back or rear — of the body, an object, or (in statistics) a revised probability.
How do you pronounce “posterior”?
“Posterior” is pronounced pos-TEER-ree-uh (/poʊˈstɪɹ.i.ɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “posterior” in a sentence?
Here is “posterior” used in a sentence: “The posterior part of the skull protects the brain stem.”
What part of speech is “posterior”?
Depending on how it is used, “posterior” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “posterior” come from?
The word “posterior” comes from Latin. From Latin posterior, meaning 'that which comes after or behind,' the comparative form of posterus ('following').
Is “posterior” a common word?
“Posterior” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “posterior” have?
“Posterior” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: located at or nearer the back of something, especially the body.
