Butt vs. Derriere — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Published on October 4, 2023
Butt" and "Derriere" both refer to the human posterior, but "Butt" is informal, whereas "Derriere" is a more polite, refined synonym, derived from French.
Difference Between Butt and Derriere
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Key Differences
"Butt" and "Derriere" serve as references to the human posterior, but their usage varies in formality and context. "Butt" is colloquial, informal, and more commonly used in everyday language. It is straightforward but can be considered impolite or crude in certain situations. In contrast, "Derriere" is more refined and is often perceived as a more polite or delicate synonym, stemming from the French word for "behind."
"Derriere," with its French origin, carries a certain elegance and politeness, making it more suitable in formal or polite conversations. It is less likely to offend and is more socially acceptable in varied settings. On the other hand, the term "Butt" is more casual, widely used in informal settings, and can be perceived as disrespectful or inappropriate in formal or polite contexts.
While "Butt" is more universally recognized and understood due to its straightforwardness and common usage, "Derriere" might not be as instantly recognized, especially by those less familiar with euphemisms or the French language. "Butt" is more likely to be used in casual, everyday conversations, while "Derriere" might be reserved for more cautious, respectful dialogues or writings.
"Derriere" and "Butt," despite their differences in formality, serve the same purpose in language—to denote the human posterior. Choosing between them depends on the context, audience, and the level of respect and politeness intended by the speaker or writer. "Butt" may be more suitable for casual, relaxed environments, while "Derriere" is preferred when a more cultured or delicate expression is desired.
Comparison Chart
Formality
Informal
More formal
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Origin
English
French
Usage
Common in everyday, casual language
Used in polite, refined conversations
Recognition
Universally recognized
May not be instantly recognized by everyone
Social Acceptance
Can be considered impolite in certain situations
Generally considered polite
Compare with Definitions
Butt
An informal and common term for the buttocks.
The kid got a kick on the butt for misbehaving.
Derriere
A polite term for the human buttocks.
The chair was uncomfortable to sit on, hurting my derriere.
Butt
The posterior of humans, used casually.
He accidentally burnt his butt on the hot surface.
Derriere
A polite, elegant word for the human backside.
The cyclist padded his shorts to protect his derriere.
Butt
(of a person or animal) hit (someone or something) with the head or horns
She butted him in the chest
Derriere
A more formal, delicate term for the human rear end, originating from French.
The actor made a joke about his derriere.
Butt
Adjoin or meet end to end
The shop butted up against the row of houses
Derriere
The rear, posterior part of the human body; a cultured synonym for butt.
She fell and bruised her derriere on the icy sidewalk.
Butt
A push or blow, especially one given with the head.
Derriere
The part of the human body one sits on; a refined synonym for buttocks.
The dress fit snugly around her derriere.
Butt
The person or thing at which criticism or ridicule is directed
His singing is the butt of dozens of jokes
Derriere
The buttocks; the rear.
Butt
An archery or shooting target or range.
Derriere
Alternative spelling of derrière
Butt
The thicker end of something, especially a tool or a weapon
A rifle butt
Derriere
The fleshy part of the human body that you sit on;
He deserves a good kick in the butt
Are you going to sit on your fanny and do nothing?
Butt
The stub of a cigar or a cigarette.
Butt
A person's buttocks or anus
I was being paid to sit on my butt and watch television
Butt
The trunk of a tree, especially the part just above the ground.
Butt
A cask, typically used for wine, beer, or water
A butt of malmsey
Butt
A liquid measure equal to 126 US gallons (equivalent to 477.5 litres).
Butt
To hit or push against with the head or horns; ram.
Butt
To hit or push something with the head or horns.
Butt
To project forward or out.
Butt
To join or be joined end to end; abut.
Butt
A push or blow with the head or horns.
Butt
A butt joint.
Butt
A butt hinge.
Butt
One that serves as an object of ridicule or contempt
I was the butt of their jokes.
Butt
A target, as in archery or riflery.
Butt
Butts A target range.
Butt
An obstacle behind a target for stopping the shot.
Butt
An embankment or hollow used as a blind by hunters of wildfowl.
Butt
(Archaic) A goal.
Butt
(Obsolete) A bound; a limit.
Butt
The larger or thicker end of an object
The butt of a rifle.
Butt
An unburned end, as of a cigarette.
Butt
(Informal) A cigarette.
Butt
A short or broken remnant; a stub.
Butt
(Informal) The buttocks; the rear end.
Butt
A large cask.
Butt
A unit of volume equal to two hogsheads, usually the equivalent of 126 US gallons (about 477 liters).
Butt
(Slang) Very. Used as an intensive
Butt ugly.
Butt expensive.
Butt
(countable) The larger or thicker end of something; the blunt end, in distinction from the sharp or narrow end
Butt
The buttocks used as a minced oath in idiomatic expressions; less objectionable than arse/ass.
Get up off your butt and get to work.
Butt
(leather trades) The thickest and stoutest part of tanned oxhides, used for soles of boots, harness, trunks.
Butt
(countable) The waste end of anything.
Butt
(slang) A used cigarette.
Butt
A piece of land left unplowed at the end of a field.
Butt
Hassock.
Butt
(US) A crust end-piece of a loaf of bread.
Butt
An end of something, often distinguished in some way from the other end.
Butt
The end of a firearm opposite to that from which a bullet is fired.
She was hit in the face with the butt of a shotgun.
Butt
(lacrosse) The plastic or rubber cap used to cover the open end of a lacrosse stick's shaft in order to reduce injury.
Butt
The portion of a half-coupling fastened to the end of a hose.
Butt
The end of a connecting rod or other like piece, to which the boxing is attached by the strap, cotter, and gib.
Butt
(mechanical) A joint where the ends of two objects come squarely together without scarfing or chamfering.
Butt
(carpentry) A kind of hinge used in hanging doors, etc., so named because it is attached to the inside edge of the door and butts against the casing, instead of on its face, like the strap hinge; also called butt hinge.
Butt
(shipbuilding) The joint where two planks in a strake meet.
Butt
The blunt back part of an axehead or large blade. Also called the poll.
Butt
(countable) A limit; a bound; a goal; the extreme bound; the end.
Butt
A mark to be shot at; a target.
Butt
Usually as "butt of (a) joke" A person at whom ridicule, jest, or contempt is directed.
He's usually the butt of their jokes.
Butt
The hut or shelter of the person who attends to the targets in rifle practice.
Butt
A push, thrust, or sudden blow, given by the head; a head butt.
Be careful in the pen, that ram can knock you down with a butt.
The handcuffed suspect gave the officer a desperate butt in the chest.
Butt
A thrust in fencing.
Butt
(English units) An English measure of capacity for liquids, containing 126 wine gallons which is one-half tun; equivalent to the pipe.
Butt
A wooden cask for storing wine, usually containing 126 gallons.
Butt
(Northern England) Any of various flatfish such as sole, plaice or turbot
Butt
A heavy two-wheeled cart.
Butt
A three-wheeled cart resembling a wheelbarrow.
Butt
The shoulder of an animal, especially the portion above the picnic, as a cut of meat.
Butt
To join at the butt, end, or outward extremity; to terminate; to be bounded; to abut.
Butt
(transitive) To strike bluntly, particularly with the head.
Butt
(intransitive) To strike bluntly with the head.
Rams butt at other males during mating season.
Butt
A limit; a bound; a goal; the extreme bound; the end.
Here is my journey's end, here my buttAnd very sea mark of my utmost sail.
Butt
A mark to be shot at; a target.
The groom his fellow groom at butts defies,And bends his bow, and levels with his eyes.
Butt
A person at whom ridicule, jest, or contempt is directed; as, the butt of the company.
I played a sentence or two at my butt, which I thought very smart.
Butt
A push, thrust, or sudden blow, given by the head of an animal; as, the butt of a ram.
Butt
A thrust in fencing.
To prove who gave the fairer butt,John shows the chalk on Robert's coat.
Butt
A piece of land left unplowed at the end of a field.
The hay was growing upon headlands and butts in cornfields.
Butt
A joint where the ends of two objects come squarely together without scarfing or chamfering; - also called butt joint.
Butt
The joint where two planks in a strake meet.
Butt
A kind of hinge used in hanging doors, etc.; - so named because fastened on the edge of the door, which butts against the casing, instead of on its face, like the strap hinge; also called butt hinge.
Butt
The thickest and stoutest part of tanned oxhides, used for soles of boots, harness, trunks.
Butt
The hut or shelter of the person who attends to the targets in rifle practice.
Butt
The buttocks; as, get up off your butt and get to work; - used as a euphemism, less objectionable than ass.
Amen; and make me die a good old man!That's the butt end of a mother's blessing.
Butt
A large cask or vessel for wine or beer. It contains two hogsheads.
Butt
The common English flounder.
Butt
To join at the butt, end, or outward extremity; to terminate; to be bounded; to abut.
And Barnsdale there doth butt on Don's well-watered ground.
Butt
To strike by thrusting the head against; to strike with the head.
Two harmless lambs are butting one the other.
Butt
Thick end of the handle
Butt
A victim of ridicule or pranks
Butt
The fleshy part of the human body that you sit on;
He deserves a good kick in the butt
Are you going to sit on your fanny and do nothing?
Butt
Sports equipment consisting of an object set up for a marksman or archer to aim at
Butt
Finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
Butt
A joint made by fastening ends together without overlapping
Butt
A large cask (especially one holding a volume equivalent to 2 hogsheads or 126 gallons)
Butt
The small unused part of something (especially the end of a cigarette that is left after smoking)
Butt
Lie adjacent to another or share a boundary;
Canada adjoins the U.S.
England marches with Scotland
Butt
To strike, thrust or shove against, often with head or horns;
He butted his sister out of the way
Butt
Place end to end without overlapping;
The frames must be butted at the joints
Butt
The fleshy part of the human body on which a person sits.
He fell and landed on his butt.
Butt
The lower rear portion of the human trunk.
She worked out to tone her butt.
Butt
The rear end of the human body, below the back and above the legs.
He has been sitting on his butt all day playing video games.
Common Curiosities
Can "Butt" be considered rude?
Yes, "Butt" can be considered impolite or crude in formal or respectful settings.
Is "Butt" commonly used in everyday language?
Yes, "Butt" is a common, informal term used in everyday, casual conversations.
Is "Derriere" recognized by everyone?
"Derriere" might not be as universally recognized as "Butt," especially by those less familiar with French or euphemisms.
Can "Butt" be used in formal writing?
"Butt" is usually avoided in formal writing, with more polite synonyms preferred.
Can "Derriere" be used casually?
While "Derriere" can be used casually, it is often reserved for more formal or polite contexts.
Is "Derriere" a more refined term?
Yes, "Derriere" is considered more refined and polite, suitable for formal conversations.
Is "Butt" suitable for respectful dialogues?
"Butt" may be perceived as disrespectful in polite or respectful dialogues, and a more polite synonym is often preferred.
Is "Derriere" French in origin?
Yes, "Derriere" originates from the French word for "behind."
Is "Butt" a universal term for the human posterior?
"Butt" is widely recognized and understood as a term for the human posterior.
Can "Butt" refer to other things besides the human posterior?
Yes, "Butt" has several other meanings, such as the thicker end of something or to strike with the head.
Does "Derriere" imply politeness?
Yes, using "Derriere" usually implies a degree of politeness and delicacy.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
