ass

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈas 

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)

ˈas 

variants or arse

ˈas,

ˈärs 

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

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• burro
• donkey
• jackass
• moke [British slang]

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

Noun

The magic is in the ratio of water to grounds as well as the timing, which is simple in theory but a pain in the ass in practice. —Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2024

Yeah, [going through multiple people] can be a pain in the ass. —Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Dec. 2024

Here was this band of rebellious and silly kids in bright clothes rapping their asses off. —Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2024

By Stephanie Zacharek November 22, 2024 10:58 AM EST The pleasures of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II are numerous: There’s Paul Mescal as scrappy gladiator Lucius, bent on kicking as much Roman ass as possible. —Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 22 Nov. 2024

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

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