buttock
B2Semi-formal to Informal. Technical in anatomical/zoological contexts.
Definition
Meaning
Either of the two fleshy rounded parts forming the rear of the human body below the waist.
A fleshy protruding part analogous to the human buttocks in other animals; the rear portion of an inanimate object (e.g., a ship's buttocks).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in the plural form 'buttocks' to refer to the paired structure. The singular 'buttock' is less common and often used in technical or comparative contexts (e.g., 'a bruise on the left buttock').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Both use 'buttock(s)'. UK more likely to use 'bottom' colloquially; US 'butt' is very common informally.
Connotations
Neutral/anatomical, but can be perceived as slightly clinical or old-fashioned compared to very informal terms. In both, 'buttocks' is the polite term.
Frequency
Higher frequency in formal, medical, or official contexts in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[preposition] on/in the + buttock(s)suffer from + pain in + the + buttock(s)injure/strain + (one's) + buttock(s)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pain in the butt (US)/arse (UK) [though 'buttock' not used]”
- “Work your butt off [idiom uses 'butt']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Extremely rare. Potentially in ergonomics or workplace safety (e.g., 'prevent pressure on the buttocks').
Academic
Common in medical, anatomical, biological, and anthropological texts.
Everyday
Used in polite conversation regarding health, fitness, or child-rearing (e.g., 'The vaccine is given in the buttock').
Technical
Standard in anatomy, physiotherapy, zoology, and equestrian contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The physio advised him to buttock-clench during the exercise.
- The rider was warned not to buttock the horse too aggressively.
American English
- The trainer had him buttock-squeeze to activate the glutes.
- The term is rarely verbed; 'butt' is used instead (e.g., 'butt in line').
adverb
British English
- (Extremely rare, almost non-existent) N/A
American English
- (Extremely rare, almost non-existent) N/A
adjective
British English
- The buttock region was sore after the long hike.
- He had a nasty buttock injury from the fall.
American English
- She focused on her buttock muscles during the workout.
- The doctor noted a buttock crease rash.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby has a red mark on his buttocks.
- He fell and hurt his buttock.
- The exercise is good for strengthening your buttocks.
- After the long flight, my buttocks were numb.
- The muscle strain was located in the upper part of the left buttock.
- The sculptor paid careful attention to the shape of the figure's buttocks.
- Anthropological studies sometimes examine variations in buttock shape across populations.
- The saddle is designed to distribute weight evenly across the rider's ischial tuberosities and buttocks.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
'BUTT' + 'OCK' sounds like 'butt lock' – imagine locking something valuable between your buttocks.
Conceptual Metaphor
BUTTOCKS ARE A BASE/SUPPORT (e.g., 'He sat on his buttocks', 'the buttocks of the chair'). BUTTOCKS ARE A TARGET (e.g., 'kick in the buttocks').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from 'ягодица' where a more informal word like 'bottom' or 'bum' is more natural. 'Buttock(s)' is the direct equivalent but is more formal/medical than 'попа'. Do not confuse with 'butt' (as in cigarette butt).
Common Mistakes
- Using singular 'buttock' when referring generally to the body part (usually plural). Spelling error: 'buttucks'. Confusing 'buttocks' with 'hips' or 'thighs'.
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the word 'buttocks' MOST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct but used differently. 'Buttocks' (plural) is the standard term for the body part. The singular 'buttock' is used when referring to one side specifically (e.g., 'left buttock').
'Buttocks' is the standard, semi-formal/anatomical term. 'Butt' is the common, informal American equivalent. 'Butt' is widely understood but less formal.
Very rarely and it is non-standard. In specific technical instructions (e.g., physiotherapy) you might see 'buttock squeeze', but it's not a conventional verb.
No, it is not rude. It is the polite, clinical term. It can sound slightly technical or old-fashioned in casual conversation, where terms like 'bottom' (UK) or 'butt' (US) are more common informally.