buttock

/ˈbʌtək/

//ˈbʌtək// noun

"buttock" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“buttock” is uncommon English (frequency #54,065 among 31,241 “B” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#54,065
frequency rank, English
31,241
“B” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Each of the two large fleshy halves of the posterior part of the body between the base of the back, the perineum, and the top of the legs.

Key facts for buttock
PropertyValue
Headwordbuttock
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈbʌtək/
Letters7
Frequency rank#54,065
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “buttock” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). buttock lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

buttock is uncommon English at frequency #54,065 among 31,241 “B” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈbʌtək/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for buttock, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: Inherited from Middle English buttok, probably from Old English buttuc (“end; end piece”; also, “short piece of land”). Attested with its current anatomical meaning since 1300. A diminutive form of what is presumably the Old English precursor of butt + -ock… The correct English form is buttock, spelled B-U-T-T-O-C-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    Each of the two large fleshy halves of the posterior part of the body between the base of the back, the perineum, and the top of the legs.
  2. 2
    The convexity of a ship behind, under the stern.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English buttok, probably from Old English buttuc (“end; end piece”; also, “short piece of land”). Attested with its current anatomical meaning since 1300. A diminutive form of what is presumably the Old English precursor of butt + -ock (diminutive suffix).

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "buttock"?
"buttock" is spelled B-U-T-T-O-C-K. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈbʌtək/.
What does "buttock" mean?
As a noun, "buttock" means: Each of the two large fleshy halves of the posterior part of the body between the base of the back, the perineum, and the top of the legs.
How do you pronounce "buttock"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "buttock" is /ˈbʌtək/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "buttock"?
Inherited from Middle English buttok, probably from Old English buttuc (“end; end piece”; also, “short piece of land”). Attested with its current anatomical meaning since 1300. A diminutive form of what is presumably the Old English precursor of b... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “buttock”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is B-U-T-T-O-C-K - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈbʌtək/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list