ass

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
: any of several hardy gregarious (see gregarious sense 1a) African or Asian perissodactyl mammals (genus Equus) smaller than the horse and having long ears
especially : an African mammal (E. africanus) that is the ancestor of the donkey
2
informal + impolite : a stupid, stubborn, or detestable person
a pompous ass
made an ass of himself
He was an ass to her, dissing her script (which he apparently lost), telling her women couldn't be artists and that she looked so much prettier with makeup on.Lauren Piester
often compounded with a preceding adjective
Don't be a smart-ass.

ass

2 of 3

noun (2)

variants or arse
ˈas,
ˈärs How to pronounce ass (audio)
1
a
informal + impolite : buttocks
often used in emphatic reference to a specific person
Get your ass over here.
saved my ass
b
informal + impolite : anus
2
offensive : sexual intercourse

ass

3 of 3

adverb

informal + impolite
used as a postpositive intensive especially with words of derogatory implication
fancy-ass

Examples of ass in a Sentence

Noun (1) the farm kept a few asses for hauling hay in and out of the field
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Had a heartbreaker last week and then getting our ass kicked this week. Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2024 Better to be the lowest-down dirtiest devil of the underground than get your ass handed to you by one. Andy Andersen, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2024 For most people, at most companies, that means, at minimum, trying not to make an ass of yourself in public. Allison Morrow, CNN, 23 Oct. 2024 But many successful activists are unpleasant human beings—frequently, in fact, royal pains in the ass. Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ass 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English assa, probably from Old Irish asan, from Latin asinus

Noun (2) and Adverb

Middle English ars, ers, from Old English ærs, ears; akin to Old High German & Old Norse ars buttocks, Greek orrhos buttocks, oura tail

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

circa 1920, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ass was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near ass

Cite this Entry

“Ass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ass. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

ass

noun
ˈas
1
: any of several mammals resembling but smaller than the related horses and having a shorter mane, shorter hair on the tail, and longer ears
especially : donkey
2
informal : a stupid or stubborn person

More from Merriam-Webster on ass

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