1
a
: the upper rounded part of the hindquarters of a quadruped mammal
b
c
: the sacral or dorsal part of the posterior end of a bird
2
: a cut of meat (such as beef) between the loin and round see beef illustration
3
: a small or inferior remnant or offshoot
especially : a group (such as a parliament) carrying on in the name of the original body after the departure or expulsion of a large number of its members

Examples of rump in a Sentence

I slipped and fell on my rump. she plopped down on her rump to listen to the campfire story
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recognizing Somaliland would undoubtedly rattle the rump state of Somalia, further destabilize the Horn, and elicit a sharp rebuke from the African Union, which has long opposed secessionist movements. Ken Opalo, Foreign Affairs, 4 Dec. 2024 Like other Thomson’s gazelles, Cobbler also has a white patch on his rump extending underneath his tail, distinguishing him from the larger Grant’s gazelle, whose white patch extends above the tail. Skylar Heisey, The Arizona Republic, 30 Oct. 2024 Administrative bloat already threatens to turn the professoriate into a university rump; a case like this, in which one aggrieved actor plays to the refs of not merely the managerial bureaucracy but of the state itself, only further undermines the necessary defense of academic autonomy. Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2024 Her ample backside pulls the fabric tight, outlining her rump right down to a dimple in one plump cheek. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 2 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rump 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish rumpe rump; akin to Middle High German rumph torso

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rump was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near rump

Cite this Entry

“Rump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rump. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

rump

noun
1
a
: upper rounded part of the hindquarters of a 4-legged animal
2
: a cut of beef between the loin and round

Medical Definition

rump

noun
1
: the upper rounded part of the hindquarters of a quadruped mammal
2
: the seat of the body : buttocks

More from Merriam-Webster on rump

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