anal

1 of 2

adjective

ˈā-nᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, situated near, or involving the anus

an anal fin

2

psychoanalytic theory

a

: of, relating to, characterized by, or being the stage of psychosexual development which follows the oral stage (see oral entry 1 sense 3) and during which the child is concerned especially with his or her feces

b

: of, relating to, characterized by, or being personality traits (such as parsimony, meticulousness, and ill humor) considered typical of fixation at the anal stage of development : anal-retentive

an anal disposition

—often used in nontechnical contexts to describe someone as extremely or excessively neat, careful, or precise

I have a mania for neatness in some matters that is almost anal.

—Joseph Heller

anally

ˈā-nᵊl-ē 

adverb

anal

2 of 2

abbreviation

1

analogy

2

analysis; analytic

Examples of anal in a Sentence

Adjective

He can be pretty anal about keeping his office neat.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

There's a light-up see-saw, a miniature zip line, a giant skunk sculpture that sprays fog from its anal glands and, of course, a large mastodon sculpture that pays homage to The Acres' history. —Bebe Hodges, The Enquirer, 29 Nov. 2024

In her new book Cher: The Memoir, Part 1, which was released on Tuesday, Nov. 19, the Oscar-winning Moonstruck actress, 78, claims how her pal Fawcett — who died in 2009 at age 62, three years after she was diagnosed with anal cancer — wanted to move in with Cher towards the end of her life. —Eric Andersson, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024

The sores typically appear in the genital or anal areas or in the mouth. —Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman, 16 Apr. 2024

This test evaluates whether the nerves that work with the anal muscles are functioning correctly. —Cristina Mutchler, Health, 3 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from New Latin ānālis, from Latin ānus anus + -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1769, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing anal

• anal retentive
• anal-retentiveness

Kids Definition

anal

adjective

ˈān-ᵊl

: of, relating to, situated near, or involving the anus

anally

-ᵊl-ē

adverb

Medical Definition

anal

1 of 2 adjective

ˈān-ᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, or situated near the anus

the anal opening

anal fissures

2

a

: of, relating to, or characterized by the stage of psychosexual development in psychoanalytic theory that follows the oral stage and during which a child derives libidinal gratification from the expulsion and retention of the feces and conflict arises from parental demands regarding toilet training

During the anal stage, from about 18 months to 3 years, the sphincter muscles become sensitive and controllable and bowel and bladder retention and elimination become a source of gratification.

—David G. Myers, Psychology

b

: of, relating to, or characterized by personality traits (as orderliness, frugality, and obstinacy) considered typical of fixation at the anal stage of development : anal-retentive

—often used in nontechnical contexts to describe someone as extremely or excessively neat, careful, or precise compare genital sense 3, oral sense 3, phallic sense 2

anally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

anal

2 of 2 abbreviation

1

analysis

2

analytic

3

analyze