# posterior

/ˌpɔˈstɪɹjɝ/ (US) · /pɒstˈiəɹɪɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/posterior
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. the buttocks

noun · CEFR C1 · Humorous · Formal

a polite or funny way to talk about your bottom.

For teachers: a euphemistic or humorous reference to the human buttocks.

- The cyclist complained of a sore posterior after the long mountain ride.
- The comedian made a self-deprecating joke about his own ample posterior, much to the delight of the audience.

### 2. at the back

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

describes something located at or near the back of a body or object.

For teachers: situated behind or at the rear of a structure; in human anatomy, it refers to the dorsal side.

- The doctor examined the posterior part of the patient's skull for any bruising.
- The surgeon noted that the lesion was located on the posterior wall of the heart, making the procedure significantly more delicate.

Usage: In medical contexts, it is the direct opposite of 'anterior'.

### 3. later in time

adjective · CEFR C2 · Formal · Academic

happening later than something else.

For teachers: coming after in time or following in a sequence.

- The events posterior to the war changed the country's borders forever.
- The legal team argued that any evidence posterior to the signing of the contract was irrelevant to the current dispute.

### 4. probability

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Academic

the chance that a theory is true based on new information.

For teachers: the revised or updated probability of an event occurring after taking into consideration new evidence.

- The scientist calculated the posterior to see if the new data supported her theory.
- In Bayesian statistics, the posterior distribution represents the updated belief about a parameter after observing the sample data.

## Examples

- He slipped on the ice and landed right on his posterior.
- The doctor noted a small bruise on the patient's posterior following the fall from the bicycle.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.