What does wazoo mean?
“Wazoo” is a very informal North American word for the anus. Its tone is typically playful, humorous, or childish, and it often appears in casual speech, family banter, or jokes rather than serious discussion. The word can make an ordinary bodily reference sound less clinical or blunt, although it may also sound juvenile or insulting when used by one person to describe another. It is especially associated with American and Canadian English and has no normal role in formal writing. Although it resembles “wahoo” in spelling, the two words have different meanings: “wazoo” refers to the anus, while “wahoo” may refer to an enthusiastic person or an expression of excitement. “Wazoo” should be understood as a familiar substitute for the more formal “anus” and the more vulgar “ass.”
nounAn informal, humorous or childish name for the anus.
- An informal, humorous or childish name for the anus.
"The dog scratched its wazoo after playing in the yard."
"The dog kept rubbing its wazoo against the carpet."
"Her younger brother could not stop giggling after someone mentioned his wazoo."
The plural is used when referring to multiple people or animals or when discussing the body part in general.
"The nurse carefully checked the patients' wazoos for redness."
“Wazoo” turns an ordinary bodily reference into playful, deliberately indirect language.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of wazoo
The word is attested in American English by the 1930s, but its ultimate origin is uncertain. It appears to have developed as an intentionally euphemistic or childish name for the anus, with no securely established cognates outside English.
Related word forms
How wazoo is actually used
Very informal and often humorous or childish; it may sound silly, immature, or mildly insulting depending on context. It is not used in formal writing.
Easily confused with wazoo
“Wazoo” is an informal name for the anus, whereas “wahoo” can mean an enthusiastic person or an expression of excitement.