What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
posterior
Example
The doctor examined the patient's posterior for any signs of injury. [posterior: noun]
Example
The team will focus on the posterior half of the project next week. [posterior: adjective]
back
Example
My back hurts after sitting at my desk all day. [back: noun]
Example
The back of the book has an index of all the topics covered. [back: noun]
Example
I want to go back to my hometown for the holidays. [back: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Back is more commonly used than posterior in everyday language. Back is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while posterior is less common and more specific.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between posterior and back?
Posterior is more formal and scientific, while back is more casual and commonly used in everyday language.
