ENGLISH
REFERENCE

penis

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈpinɪs// UK //pˈiːnɪs// pe·nis

n. the external male organ used for urinating and for sex.

n. the primary male external reproductive organ, also serving as the conduit for urine in mammals.


SIMPLE

The doctor examined the patient's penis for signs of infection.

CONTEXTUAL

In many mammal species, the penis contains a bone called the baculum to help maintain stiffness during mating.

COMPLEX

The evolution of the mammalian penis reflects a complex history of sexual selection and physiological adaptation for internal fertilisation.

Synonyms
Origin

From late 17th century. Learned borrowing from Latin pēnis (“tail, penis”), from Proto-Indo-European *pes- (“penis”). Displaced native English pintle, tarse, pillicock.

Usage

The term is the standard anatomical and medical designation; it is neutral in register but may be considered sensitive in social contexts.

© 2026 English Reference