Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Located behind or at the back of something: Refers to a position that is toward the rear or hind part of a structure, especially in anatomy.
   • Coming after in time or order; later: Refers to something that occurs at a subsequent stage or time.

2. Noun:

   • The buttocks: The fleshy part of the human body on which a person sits.
   • A tooth situated at the back of the mouth: In dentistry, a tooth located in the rear part of the dental arch, such as a premolar or molar.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The posterior part of the brain is responsible for visual processing.
  • The agreement was reached at a posterior date.
• Noun:
  • He fell and bruised his posterior.
  • The dentist filled a cavity in a lower posterior.

Advanced Usage

• In formal/academic contexts: Used primarily in technical fields like anatomy, biology, and formal writing to denote position or sequence.
  • The posterior probability was calculated in the statistical model.
• "Posterior to": A formal phrase meaning "after" or "following in time/order."
  • Developments posterior to the treaty changed the political landscape.

Variants and Related Words

• Posteriorly (adverb): Toward the posterior part; from behind.
  • The nerves extend posteriorly from the spinal cord.
• Posteriority (noun): The state of being later or subsequent in time.
  • The posteriority of the event was confirmed.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Rear, hind, back, subsequent, later.
• Noun: Buttocks, rear, behind, seat.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Anterior, front, prior, earlier.
• Noun: (For body part) Front, face.

Adjective

1. coming at a subsequent time or stage
   • without ulterior argument
   • the mood posterior to
2. located at or near or behind a part or near the end of a structure

Noun

1. a tooth situated at the back of the mouth
2. the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
   • he deserves a good kick in the butt
   • are you going to sit on your fanny and do nothing?