What does clit mean?
"Clit" is an informal shortening of the noun "clitoris," referring to the small, sensitive sexual organ situated at the anterior junction of the labia minora in female anatomy. The full form "clitoris" is standard in medical, scientific, and formal contexts, while "clit" appears chiefly in casual speech, journalism about sexuality, and everyday discussion. The word is direct and unembellished in tone: some speakers consider it blunt or mildly vulgar, while others use it neutrally as simply a convenient shortened form. Its register makes it well suited to frank conversation but generally unsuitable for clinical documentation or polite formal prose, where the longer term is favored.
nounA colloquial shortening of "clitoris": the small, highly sensitive female sexual organ located at the front junction of the labia minora.
- Informal or slang term for the clitoris.
"The anatomy diagram labeled the clit clearly for the students."
"The doctor explained that the clit contains thousands of nerve endings."
"Some people find the clinical term "clitoris" preferable to the informal "clit.""
Rarely used in the plural since the term usually refers to a single anatomical feature per individual; plural appears mainly in general statements across individuals.
"Textbooks describe how clits vary in size among individuals."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of clit
The word "clit" arose in English as an informal clipping of "clitoris," a borrowing ultimately from Greek "kleitoris," whose deeper origin remains uncertain despite various proposed roots. The clipped form emerged in modern colloquial English, likely during the twentieth century, as casual speech naturally shortened the longer anatomical term.
Related word forms
How clit is actually used
This is an informal, somewhat blunt abbreviation of "clitoris." It is common in casual conversation, sex education, and media but may be considered crude or too explicit in formal or medical writing, where "clitoris" is preferred.