Posterior comes from the Latin word posterus, meaning "coming after". Posterior is often used as a technical term in biology and medicine to refer to the back side of things, and is the opposite of anterior, which refers to the front side. These terms describe positions towards the front (anterior) and back (posterior) of the body, with respect to the organism’s forward motion.

Understanding the Context

In humans, the chest is anterior, while the back is posterior. POSTERIOR meaning: 1. positioned at or towards the back 2. later in time 3.

Key Insights

your bottom: . Learn more. posterior (pɒˈstɪərɪə) adj 1. situated at the back of or behind something 2. coming after or following another in a series Definition of posterior adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Final Thoughts

Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. There are nine meanings listed in OED's entry for the word posterior, four of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. posterior, n., adj., & adv. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford ... The prefix post means “after,” and things that are posterior come after the things in the front.

The opposite of posterior is anterior, which refers to the front, usually of body parts.