What does midriff mean?
A midriff is the front of the abdomen between the lower ribs and the waist, usually referring to the portion visible beneath the chest. In general conversation, the word often describes exposed skin or clothing between a shirt and a skirt or trousers, as in references to a bare or exposed midriff. The term is neutral in its anatomical meaning but is frequently used in fashion, entertainment, and advertising, where it may describe a style of dress rather than make a specific medical claim. Although the abdomen refers more broadly to the whole cavity and its contents, the midriff identifies a particular external area of the torso. Together, these uses make midriff useful when precision about the location of an exposed or examined part of the body is important.
nounThe front part of the abdomen between the lower ribs and the waist. The term may also refer to an area of skin or clothing exposed between a shirt and a skirt or pair of trousers.
- The front portion of the abdomen between the lower ribs and the waist.
- The area of the body or clothing exposed between a shirt and a skirt or pair of trousers.
"She lifted her arms, briefly revealing a small tattoo along her midriff."
"The doctor gently pressed the patient's midriff while examining her abdomen."
"Warm air from the vent brushed the exposed midriff of the man waiting in line."
The plural is used when referring to multiple people's midriffs or to multiple exposed areas described by the word.
"The dancers turned to show off their midriffs."
The midriff takes its name from being in the middle of the torso and entered English long before crop tops made it a fashion term.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does midriff come from?
Midriff is a compound formed from mid- and an older English word meaning the belly or middle part of the body. The mid- element comes through English from Latin medius, meaning middle, and is also represented in words such as middle, midst, and intermediate. The second element is an older, now uncommon form associated with the belly, while the compound has long been used for the corresponding part of the torso.
How midriff is actually used
The anatomical sense is standard in medicine and everyday use. The clothing-related sense is especially common in fashion and media contexts and can sound mildly informal or descriptive.
Easily confused with midriff
The midriff is specifically the front of the abdomen, whereas the midsection can refer to the whole central part of a person or thing.