pudendum

[ pyoo-den-duhm ]

noun,plural pu·den·da [pyoo-den-duh]. /pyuˈdɛn də/.
  1. Usually pudenda .Anatomy. the external genital organs, especially the vulva.

Origin of pudendum

1
First recorded in1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin, special use of neuter of Latin pudendus, gerundive of pudēre “to be ashamed”

usage note For pudendum

When pudendum first appeared in English in the 14th century, the term applied to all genitalia. But over time the term was used almost exclusively to mean the vulva. Some now find the term objectionable, as it is derived from the Latin verb “to be ashamed,” and therefore can project a negative image of human, and specifically female, sexuality. As a result, in 2019 it was announced that pudendum would be dropped from the next edition of the official international lexicon of anatomical terms Terminologia Anatomica. This likely means that use of the term, especially in scientific and medical contexts, will no longer be acceptable.

Words Nearby pudendum

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How to use pudendum in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pudendum

pudendum

/ (pjuːˈdɛndəm) /


nounplural -da (-də)
  1. (often plural) the human external genital organs collectively, esp of a female

Origin of pudendum

1
C17: from Late Latin, from Latin pudenda the shameful (parts), from pudēre to be ashamed

Derived forms of pudendum

  • pudendal or pudic (ˈpjuːdɪk), adjective

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