What does buttock mean?
A buttock is either of the two rounded masses of muscle and flesh at the back of the human hip, together forming the surface on which a person sits. The word is standard in British and American English and carries a neutral register: doctors, athletes, tailors, and everyday speakers all use it without embarrassment, though it can read as slightly blunt next to gentler terms such as "bottom" or "behind," and medical writing often prefers "gluteal." Because the part is paired, the plural "buttocks" appears far more frequently than the singular. The word also has a secondary life in butchery, where a "buttock" denotes a cut from the hindquarters of beef or pork. Its name is a small linguistic curiosity: it combines "butt," an old word for a thick or protruding end, with the diminutive suffix "-ock," so the term is literally a "little butt." Familiarity with the word matters for anyone reading anatomy, fitness, or medical prose, where it is the plain, unembarrassed term of choice.
Either of the two rounded fleshy parts at the back of the human hip, on which a person sits.
"The physiotherapist asked him to tighten his buttocks before lifting the weight."
Usually used in the plural; the word is neutral in register and common in medical and sporting contexts.
In butchery, a cut of meat taken from the hindquarters of an animal such as beef or pork.
"She slow-roasted a whole buttock of beef for the Sunday dinner."
Chiefly British usage in trade contexts; less common than the anatomical sense.
Because the body part is paired, the plural "buttocks" is markedly more common than the singular "buttock" in ordinary speech and writing.
"The long horseback ride left her buttocks bruised for days."
"Buttock" literally means "little butt" — it fuses the old word for a thick, rounded end with a diminutive suffix, making it one of anatomy's most honest names.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of buttock
"Buttock" originated in Middle English, formed by adding the diminutive suffix "-ock" to "butt," an older word meaning a thick, rounded, or projecting end that itself traces back through Middle English to Old Norse and related Germanic sources. The compound essentially means "little butt," a fittingly literal description of the rounded shape. It has been in continuous use since the medieval period and remains the standard anatomical term in both Britain and North America.
Usage notes
The word is anatomically neutral and acceptable in medical, sporting, and everyday contexts, though some speakers find it slightly clinical or blunt compared to softer euphemisms like "bottom" or "behind." In formal medical writing the adjective "gluteal" is often preferred. The plural "buttocks" is more common than the singular, since the body part naturally comes in a pair.