Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

posterior

/poʊˈstɪɹ.i.ɚ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.43 in modern English

Syllables: pos-te-ri-or
IPA: /poʊˈstɪɹ.i.ɚ/

11

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

4

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Nearer the rear or hind end; nearer the caudal end of the body in quadrupeds or the dorsal end in bipeds.

adj

Nearer the rear or hind end; nearer the caudal end of the body in quadrupeds or the dorsal end in bipeds.

adj

Following in order or in time.

Formal

noun

The posterior portions of the human body; especially, the buttocks.

Humorous

noun

The probability that a hypothesis is true (calculated by Bayes' theorem).

Example Sentences

"Stephen reigned from 1135-1154, that nasty period of our history dubbed 'The Anarchy', when forces loyal to Stephen contested the throne with those of Henry I's daughter Matilda, who by rights should have been queen. Stephen, her cousin, plonked his own posterior on the throne."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *pós Proto-Indo-European *-ti Proto-Indo-European *pósti Proto-Italic *posti Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Italic *-teros Proto-Italic *posteros Latin posterus Latin posteriorbor. English posterior Borrowed from Latin posterior (“that comes or follows after; later, latter”).

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /poʊˈstɪɹ.i.ɚ/
British English: /pɒsˈtɪə.ɹi.ə/

Usage

Inflected Forms

more posterior (comparative) most posterior (superlative) posteriour (alternative) posteriors (plural)

Derived Forms

anteroposterior apicoposterior centroposterior distoposterior dorsoposterior frontoposterior inferoposterior lateroposterior medioposterior mentoposterior mesioposterior midposterior

Phrases

duplicitas posterior long posterior ciliary artery posterior auricular artery posterior auricular muscle posterior cerebral artery posterior chamber posterior cingulate cortex posterior communicating artery

Frequently Paired Words

auricularis posterior post- postical posticous

Synonyms

back hinder rear later 'tocks arse arse cheeks ass ass cheeks backside batty behind

Antonyms

anterior prior prior probability

Rhymes With

interior superior exterior inferior homo superior anterior ulterior anteroposterior citerior posteroinferior posteroanterior anterosuperior

Questions

How do you pronounce posterior?: The recorded pronunciation is /poʊˈstɪɹ.i.ɚ/.
What does posterior mean?: Nearer the rear or hind end; nearer the caudal end of the body in quadrupeds or the dorsal end in bipeds.
Where does posterior come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *pós Proto-Indo-European *-ti Proto-Indo-European *pósti Proto-Italic *posti Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Italic *-teros Proto-Italic *posteros Latin posterus Latin posteriorbor. English posterior Borrowed from Latin posterior (“that comes or follows after; later, latter”).

How to pronounce posterior

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